FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20632, 13 August 1941, Page 8

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE

•WAIROA BOARD’S DECISION (Herald Correspondent.) A statement explaining the Govern.ment’s attitude towards the 40-hour week in relation to the national war effort was attached to a letter received at yesterday’s meeting of the Wairoa Harbour Board from the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb. The board had supported the Lake County Council’s move for the abolition of the 40-hour week, and the Minister’s letter was in reply to its representations. He had received similar resolutions from various councils and bodies, and it appeared that the steps already taken by the Government to remove obstacles which might tend to hamper industry in its application to the war effort as far as hours of work were concerned were not fully appreciated, said the Minister. “You may rest assured," he continued, “that the position is being watched very closely, and if further action is considered necessary whereby New Zealand’s war effort may be accelerated, prompt measures will be taken in order to assist in this direction.” In ;his attached statement, Mr. Webb I said that provision already had been made to lift the restrictions on working hours in those industries which played a vital part in war production. The Arbitration Court was given power to extend the weekly hours of work where it was considered impracticable to work a 40-hour week. Many awards .provided for a 44-hour week and in some cases even greater hours were prescribed. . . . The Industrial Emergency Council had already recommended that variation of conditions in respect of 13 industries and orders had been gazetted varying award conditions accordingly. Mr. G. W. Powdrell said that great disabilities were placed in the way of industries to work more than 40 hours. He mentioned a case in which, he said, the staff was prepared to work longer hours at overtime rates but permission was refused, point blank, by the union. It was decided that the chairman, Mr. J. Corkill, and the secretary should frame a reply to the Minister.