INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 August 1936, Page 12

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

SHOP-ASSISTANTS’ HOURS. [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, August 6. The hearing of the application by the Shop Assistants’ Unions for the 40hour week commenced to-day. Under The Shops and Offices Act, 1936, hours are reduced from 48 to 44. Mr. T. 0. Bishop, for the employers, pointed out that the Court had already refused to make an order prohibiting work on Saturday in the grocery trade. He said it would appear that this decision was made on the grounds that were applicable to all retail business. The necessity of going on with the case, therefore, was removed. Mr. Croskery said this case was entirely different. The Court, in its decision as to butchers and grocers specified the point of perishable goods, which fact was not associated with the present case. The Judge said the case must proceed.

Judgment was reserved in the case of New Zealand Woolpacks and Textiles Ltd.

AVELLINGTON, August 7

In the shop assistants’ claim before the Arbitration Court, for a 40-hour week, owing to the lateness of the hour, when the employers’ case concluded, it was decided that the employees’ case be submitted in writing.

AUCKLAND BUTCHERS

AUCKLAND, August 6.

On the ground that it would be impracticable to carry on the industry sufficiently on a forty-hour week, the Arbitration Court, in its reserved judgment, delivered by Mr. Justice Page to-day. made an order fixing the hours of work exclusive of overtime at fortyfour weekly for the retail butchers and small goods manufacturing industry. Saturday work will be permitted. The applications came from Wellington, Canterbury, Dunedin and Oamaru districts.

CARPENTERS AND JOINERS

WELLINGTON, August 6

The hearing of the dispute between the New Zealand Amalgamated Society of Carpenters’ and Joiners’ and Joiners’ Machinists' Industrial Association of Workers, and the New Zealand Federated Builders’ and Contrac : tors’ Industrial Association of Employers and other employers, was commenced in the Conciliation Council o-day. When the Council adjourned in the afternoon, there was still no agreement on hours and wages. A number of lesser points, however, had been settled. Overtime was to be paid at one and a-ha If times the daily rate for the first four hours, and thereafter double rates. The double rates were to be also paid for work on Saturday afternoon, Sunday, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Boxing Day. Christmas Day, Easter Saturday, and Easter Monday, and Labour Day. No worker was to do more than live consecutive hours work without a meal interval. The employers agreed to restrict overtime and to employ extra men if there were available any union members out of work and the Union undertook, on request, to supply any available labour. The hearing will be continued to-morrow. Mr. M. J. Reardon presided. The claims of the Union were for a Dominion award for an eight-hour day, with a five-day week. The minimum wage claimed for employees by the award -when working the 40-hour week was £6, casual workers to be paid not less than 3/3 per hour. The casual worker is one employed for less than two weeks. Wages were to be paid not later than Thursday in each week, and overtime to be prohibited, except in cases of extreme necessity or accident. A week’s holiday on full pay for each completed twelve months was sought. The sum of 3/6 per week, in addition to weekly wages, for travelling allowance was claimed. It was also proposed that piecework should be prohibited. The application provided for suburban and country work and for a preference clause.

The employers objected to the Union’s claims, and asked for the 1935 award.