WORKING HOURS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20572, 4 June 1941, Page 2

WORKING HOURS

NO GENERAL EXTENSION POLICY OF GOVERNMENT (Per Pre3s Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Interviewed concerning the general agitation lor an extension of working hours, the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Labour, stated that this was a question for the Industrial Finergency Council's consideration. “I would again emphasise,” said the the Minister, “the fact that this council consists of an equal number of representatives of employers and workers. The council deals with all applications for extended hours of work in respective industries, and wherever a case has been put up that, in the council’s opinion, justifies the introduction of shift work or extended hours, or any variation of an award under which an industry operates, a recommendation to that effect is made to me and a regulation issued embodying that recommendation. I say quite definitely that in no instance where a case has been made for an extension of hours or the variation ot an award lias it been turned down by the council.

“In regard to the general question of extending working hours, it is not the intention of the Government to make any alteration unless on the advice of this council. I say emphatically that the workers of this country are pulling their weight splendidly, and most industries, with greatly depleted staffs, are doing excellent work in maintaining production. As for the agitation for a general extension of hours, I am certain that the workers would, within their physical capacity, work any hours considered necessary to help Britain’s war effort. Where extensions of hours or other encroachments upon working conditions have been made, the workers have responded without any bickering, being glad to I do their utmost for the nation's war effort.