FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 179, 30 June 1936, Page 8

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

TEMPORARY’ EXEMPTION. APPLICATIONS TO COURT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 29. Claiming that under the 40-hour week it would be impossible to complete the orders in hand in time to fulfil existing contracts, the Manawatu Knitting Mills, Ltd., applied in the Arbitration Court to-day for exemption for a year from the 40-liour week provision in the Factories Act. Mr A. W, Nisbet said the company favoured the shorter working week, and the solo ground for the application was that the mills could not carry oil efficiently for the next twelve months with a 40-hour week owing to the necessity for training newcomers to the factory staff. Application was also made on behalf of eleven woollen manufacturing firms throughout the Dominion for permission to work a 44-hour week owing to the increased cost of production under the reduced hours and the difficulty of obtaining skilled workers. 1 Alternatively, application was made for exemption from the 40-hour week provision until September 1, 1937, to enable the fulfilment of existing contracts and the reorganisation of the factories. Mr Nisbet said the company was in favour of a 40-hour week, and the sole ground for the application was that it would not he practicable to carry on the work of the factory efficiently during the next 12 months if the 40-hour week was imposed. The applicant company had taken over the mills in 1923 from a firm in liquidation, and had built up a thriving business which was returning a small profit to the shareholders and was providing employment for about 100 persons. The retail trade, which purchased the output of the mills, had learned to rely on the company to keep its contracts both as to quality and time of delivery. The company had manufactured seasonal goods and had to deliver on definite dates. Every effort had been made to meet the reduction in hours and the company had increased its factory staff from 40 per cent of its total staff in March to 70 per cent in June, hut the increase was represented by workers who had to he trained and the necessary output could not be kept up without an extension of hours. Mr Nisbet quoted figures to show how much work could be done and by how much the mills would fall short if the hours were limited. Even if 45 hours could be worked the company would be at a loss to fulfil its orders.

‘ The condition in which this factory is placed,” said Mr Nisbet, “has not been brought about by any fault of its own. The rush of business is unprecedented. Retailers’ stocks are at the lowest they have ever been because of the depression. Now these retailers are replenishing as quickly as their demands can be met.” The company, Mr Nisbet continued, had already increased its staff; a new silk machine had been installed, another was being landed, and inquiries were being made by cable for further machines. If machinery could he secured, more orders would ho taken, but it would take some time to install the machines and securo skilled operatives. By July, 1937, sufficient operatives would be trained to meet the increases in business. Evidence in support of the arguments advanced was given by Mr \V. E. Winks, managing director of the applicant company, who said that the mills could not fulfil the orders received. I Mr Justice Page asked if the company had overbooked. I Mr Winks said the orders could be filled if the learners did well. He j could employ another twelve skilled operatives if they were available. The Court reserved its decision. VENUE OF HEARINGS. AUCKLAND PROTEST. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 29. A protest aga.inst the hearing of all the claims for exemption from the operation of the 40-hour week by the Arbitration Court in Wellington was made at a meeting of the trade union secretaries this morning. It was pointed out that great expense was involved in sending representatives ro Wellington in all cases. It was resolved to solid one of their number to enter a protest to the Court.

JOINT APPLICATION. EXEMPTION FROM PROVISION. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 29. Exemption from the 40-liour week provision in the Factories Amendment Act recently passed by Parliament was sought in an application made to the Arbitration Court in Wellington today on behalf of 11 woollen manufacturers in various parts of the Dominion. The manufacturers asked for an extension of hours to 44 a week on the ground that it would be impracticable to carry on the industry efficiently unless that extension were granted. In the event of an extension being refused, the manufacturers asked, as an alternative, for a temporary exemption from the 40-hour week until September 1. 1937. In addition to an extension of hours to 44 a week, manufacturers asked for an extension of working time to eight hours a day and for the right to work five hours continuously without a meal. For the employers, it was stated that the adoption of the 40-liour week must increase the cost of manufactured goods to the extent of at least 5 per cent. The industry, even working under the present conditions and 45 hours, was severely handicapped. Owing, to the difficulty experienced in obtaining skilled female workers, the introduction of the 40-hour week would not increase employment unless the mills extended their operations. If the mills were not in a position to extend, or decided for other reasons not to do so, a reduction in working hours must mean a loss in output. This loss would mean that further orders would be sent overseas. As the majority of mills at the present time were working to the utmost capacity, the workers’ representative asked the Court to refuse the application. “If the manufacturers’ business is so flourishing just now,” he said, “that they are unable to cope with it by 40 ordinary hours in a week, it appears that the income from increased business will be so large as to warrant them employing workers at overtime rates for the additional time worked over 40 hours.” The Court reserved its decision.