EXTENDED LEAVE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16491, 5 March 1914, Page 8

EXTENDED LEAVE.

ADDINGTON WORKSHOP EMPLOYEES COMPLAIN.

There appears to be some dissatisfaction amongst the employees at the Addington Workshops with regard to the working of the new regulations governing extended leave. The Government, recently passed legislation giving all those employees with ten years’ service and over, thirteen days’ holidays, which is six days more than they had hitherto enjoyed. At first sight it would appear- that this new regulation would bo received with the utmost satisfaction, but a “ Lyttelton Times ” representative discovered that exceptions were being made. It appears that all those with ten years’ service up to December 15 last who had not taken out their holidays have been, and aro being,- granted the extended leave of six days beyond, the usual seven, according to the new regulations. But the Addington men are in a peculiar position, for Carnival Week, generally recognised as the holiday week in . Christchurch, . was availed of by. many to take their seven days’ annual leave. It is stated that the majority of tho men with ten years’ service and over adopted this course. On December 15 tho thirteen days’ holiday . regulation began, so that since then all men with ten years’ service and over have had the privilege of getting six days more holidays than those who took out their annual leave in Carnival Week. These latter employees maintain that in all fairness the Department should now "rant them the oxtra six days, so that they would receive the same treatment as tho others. As bne man put it:—‘‘l took my* annual seven days in Carnival Week, and now find so-and-so getting thirteen days. When holidays fell due he was not entitled to any more than me, and I don’t see why I should not be able to get the extra six days. I can’t get them, and I don’t call that a square deal.” The Department will not grant the extra six days to those who took holidays before December 15, its reply being that-it has to draw tho line somewhere.