FORTY HOUR WEEK

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1936, Page 5

FORTY HOUR WEEK

COURT’S LATEST DECISIONS. [pee press association.] WELLINGTON, August 8. ? The 40-hour week will be worked iby stonemasons in Canterbury and i Dunedin, following a decision by Mr ■■ Justice Page, given in the Arbitration Court. The court granted an ap- ’| plication by Smokeless Fuel and '[Briquettes (Canterburyi. Ltd., for extension of its working week to 44 J hours. I In delivering judgment on the ap- ’ I plication by the stonemasons for a reduction of the working week to 40 hours, his Honor commented that the court also considered three applications made on behalf of factory occupiers for an extension to 44 hours. “We have carefully examined the evidence.” said his Honor, “and the balance-sheets submitted in support of these applications, and have come to the conclusion that the employers have not established that it would be impracticable to carry on this industry efficiently on a 40-hour week.” In making an order for the reduction of hours the court decided against Saturday work, and made the usual order precluding alteration of the rates of wages of any worker by reason of the reduction of hours. “Wo think that a case for relief has been made out by this applicant,” states the judgment, referring to Smokeless Fuel and Briquettes Canterbury), Ltd. The court made an order extending to 44 the hours of work to bo worked in this factory, and declared that Saturday work would bo permitted. Application for a 40-hour week was ■also made by the Wellington. Canterbury, Otago, and Kaitangata enginedrivers’ and firemen’s unions. Dealing with these applications, the court ruled: “The parties in these cases have agreed that the general considerations as set out in the judgment

of this court relating to storemen and packers are applicable to enginedrivers, that is to say, in the case of an engine-driver employed by a firm whose working hours have been fixed at 40 a. week, the engine-driver will, of course, get the benefit of the reduction. Where, however, the house is one which works longer hours than 40 a week, the .fortunes of the enginedriver will follow those of the house that employs him.” A general order in the terms of this declaration was issued, and leave was reserved to refer any special cases to the court. The general considerations relating to retail businesses were in the main applicable to the case of hairdressers’ assistants employed in women’s hairdressing establishments, the court stated. It had been established that it would be impracticable to carry on efficiently on a 40-hour week and it was obvious that work on Saturdays was necessary. An order was accordingly made fixing the hours of work at 44 a week. PICTURE PROJECTIONISTS. WELLINGTON, August 8. The Dominion (except Canterbury) dispute between the New Zealand Federation of Motion Picture Projectionists Industrial Association of Workers, and J. C. Williamson Picture Corporation, Ltd., and other employers, commenced to-day, before the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr M. J. Reardon. The applicants asked 1 for a considerable increase in salaries -and for regulation of hours, which wore both opposed by the employers, who submitted counter proposals. The Council adjourned until Monday, no agreement having been reached on wages or hours. WELLINGTON, August 10. As no agreement was reached on hours and wages, the motion picture projectionists’ dispute at the Conciliation Council to-day, was referred to the Arbitration Court.