AUCKLAND SUPPORT

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1944, Page 2

AUCKLAND SUPPORT

FOR FIVE DAY WEEK. AUCKLAND, June 21

A five-day working week was strongly supported by the Auckland Master Grocers’ Industrial Union of Employers at a' meeting to-night. In consequence of this, the meeting voted in favour of a machinery resolution that claims for a new award embracing a five-day week, with a late night on Friday, should be submitted to a. Conciliation Council for settlement. ' The voting was 62 in favour, with 17 against. “This is the first gun in the fiveday week,”, said Mr. R. Wilson, president of the association, when submitting the resolution. Discussion was prolonged and considerable attention was given to the position of the country storekeeper who, it was claimed, could not give satisfactory service under a five-day week. Mr, Wilson announced that, as a result of views expressed at the last meeting, a postal ballot had been conducted c-mcno- country storekeepers of the' Auckland district, and 189 had recorded votes in favour and 120 against, the supporting majority being 69. Those favouring the shorter week included some of the biggest stores in the Auckland .province, two of which were in the Waikato. The fact that the Grocers’ Federation in Wellington had left Auckland to use its own discretion in the matter of a five-day week was mentioned by Mt. H. R. Blott. Auckland was the only association which had its own award, the remainder coming under a Dominion award.

During further discussion it was contended that the arguments being used against the shorter week were the same as those used 30 years ago in opposition to a reduction of the 10 and 12 hour days. One suggestion made was that Friday night opening should be abolished and Saturday morning retained. Mt. R. M. Barker, secretary, of the association, said the assistants’ union was unanimous on a five-day week, with a provision that if for any emergency reason Friday night was rendered impracticable,, Saturday morning would be reinstituted. After the carrying of the mam resolution, it was decided to apply for the following hours of work for assistants: 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. four days of the week and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays. Opening hours were adopted as follows: 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on normal days, and 7.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays. These hours it was pointed out, would apply to the metropolitan area as laid down. Country hours would still be adjusted in accordance with the permissible limits. —