DENIAL BY MR FLETCHER

Grey River Argus, 5 April 1943, Page 3

DENIAL BY MR FLETCHER

AUCKLAND, April 1. The Commissioner of Defence Construction. Mr Fletcher, stated tonight that the message from, Auckland on Wednesday relating to hours of work on defence works was incorrect. “No change in working hours as set out in the Defence Works and Labour Legislation Suspension Order, 1942, Amendment No. 3, is proposed,” said Mr Fletcher, “and the statement that the fivedav week was to operate from April 1 is not the position. I did agree, however, that on certain specified contracts where the amount payable for travelling time was so great that the 4’, hours’ work on Saturday morning did not warrant expense that alternate v, eeks of 85 hours on five days and 81 on Saturday, and five days of 85 hours, equalling 96 hours per fortnight could, if a majority of workmen on a job so desired, be agreed to by the local Defence Works Labour Committees, provided the consent of the District Engineer of the Public Works Department was obtained. Representations for the alteration mentioned in the Press Assn, message was made to the District Engineer in Auckland, but it has been decided after full consideration to meet the position on the basis I have outlined.”