PART-TIME WORKERS

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1943, Page 6

PART-TIME WORKERS

VALUE IN INDUSTRY. The value of part-time workers' in industry was stressed recently by the controller of manpower, Mr H. L. Bockelt. Not only did their efforts in essential industries make a direct contribution to the war effort, but their entry into non-essential industries often had the effect of releasing other labour for important work. “So far the scheme has not been extensively used in New Zealand, but the industries that have tried it have found it eminently satisfactory,” said Mr Bockett. “In Wellington the tobacco factories have employed women on a part-time basis and it has assisted them materially in solving their labour problems. I am sure that there are other industries which could follow suit after a certain amount of reorganisation has been carried out. In England parttime work nas been developed to a considerable extent and'it has made a material contribution to war production.”

Mr Bockett said that, as far as part-time employment was concerned, the desire was to use married women with children, who would not otherwise be in industry. On no .account would the National Service Department allow an abuse of the scheme by people who were eligible for full-time employment. “There need be no fear on the part of married women who take parttime work that they will be bound for the duration of the war,” he said. “Unless the hours worked in an essential undertaking are at least 30 a week the employee is not covered by the regulations. If a woman who takes part-time work finds that she cannot carry on, the man-power officer will not stand in her way.” Many industries in the main centres were being examined at present with a view to extending the scheme, said Mr Bockett. A general survey of industries was being undertaken in Auckland, and until it was completed no widespread absorption of spare-time labour was intended. Mr Bockett stated that part-time workers had been used to a certain extent by the National Service Deparment in Auckland and Wellington. Other Government Departments had also adopted the scheme.