48-HOUR WEEK

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1942, Page 4

48-HOUR WEEK

FOR TIMBER WORKERS To Operate in North Island P.A. WELLINGTON, March 18. “The working of a fifty-four hour week in the defence construction industry, as recently announced, is to be followed by the working of extended hours in the timber industry in the North Island,” said the Commissioner of State Forests, Hon. J. G. Barclay, to-night. “As recently as December last, said the Minister, “representatives of both the employers and the /employees reported that some extension of hours was necessary, arid had it not been for adverse circumstances in connection with the petrol restrictions, vehicle impressment, etc., etc., extended hours would already have been adopted. It is essential now, however, even in the face of other difficulties, that production shall be materially increassxl.

“It has been decided,” added the Minister, “that all of the mills tributary to the main rail system of the North Island must be operated for not less than forty-eight hours, unless it can be shown to the Government’s satisfaction that this is impossible, either by logging difficulties, or other physical factors outside of the employer’s control. An appeal has been made to both the employers and . the employees to work the logging section of the industry and the repair personnel of the sawmills as long hours as possible consistent with efficiency, so that the maximum number of mills may work up to the fort--eight-hour limit.” The extra costs imposed upon the industry would be met by a subs’dy. Mr (Barclay added. “The necessary regulations were being’ prepared to give effect to the Government’s decision, but in the meantime, he appealed to all concerned to make every endeavour to make the working of longer hours possible. The subsidy to cover increased production costs was already operating and extra petrol essential to the expansion of production would be forthcoming.”