ANNUAL HOLIDAYS FOR ALL

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1944, Page 7

ANNUAL HOLIDAYS FOR ALL

The Annual Holidays Act which came into operation on Augst Ist., registers the most important step forward for New Zealand workers since the introduction of the fortyhour working week.

While it probably will be found that anomalies exist in the Act, it can truly be claimed that the provisions of the Act are exceptionally clear-cut, and carefully designed to adequately cover every section of wage-workers in the Dominion.

Although sections of workers have enjoyed paid annual leave for years past, most workers have previously not been provided for. Even payment for occasional statutoiy holidays is, for the majority of workers, only a comparatively recent innovation. A fortnight’s paid annual leave for all wage-workers now places this copntry well in front of all other capitalist countries as far as progressive industrial legislation is concerned.

We would he wise never to forget that the many outstanding ibenefits enjoyed by the of New Zealand, such as paid holidays for all, reasonable hours of labour, a comparatively liberal scale of social security payments covering'old age, sickness, unemployment, etc., eac,, have been obtained through the existing political and industrial Labour regime. Any change in the administrative control of the country in the direction of the present'political opponents, of the Government would undoubtedly bring to an end the present advancement of the interests of the working people of the nation (including small business owners and small and • middle farmers), and usher in a period of retrog’ression.

To, revert again to the Annual Holidays Act, no section of wage-workers who already receive higher holiday benefits under their existing awards and agreements will be affected. Casual workers are fully provided for under the Act and will receive equivalent payment from their various employers according to the periods of their employment.

While the Annual Holidays Act was promised by the Government previous to the outbreak of war its introduction was delayed. Later on it was announced that this legislation would not be possible until hostilities ceased —with ■which the industrial movement disagreed. However, the rapid improvement in ?<ew Zealand’s enconomic position and a much more favourable war situation, combined with the insistence of the Federation of Labour on this very desirable legislation, has b'rouht the Act into being.

We trust the thousands of workers who will benefit by the Annual Holidays Act will fully appreciate the importance of their gain and realise that what they have been granted by (the Labour Government is something for which the workers of other countries must continue to strive, perhaps for many years to come. !