KING’S BIRTHDAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 154, 30 May 1940, Page 8

KING’S BIRTHDAY.

CHANGE OF OBSERVANCE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 29. Owing to the serious wax situation, numerous representations have been made to the Government by workers employed in the different industries to be permitted to work on the King’s Birthday in order that they may help to contribute something extra by devoting a day’s pay to the patriotic funds. The Government has considered the position, and the Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb), thi6 afternoon, said these and other representations from all parts of the country that the holiday on June 3 should be changed to some other day had been acceded to. “In view of the need for increased production in many industries,” said Mr Webb, “the Government has decided to meet this request and make a change to a new date to be agreed upon between, the Employers’ Federation, the Federation of Labour, and the Government.” POSITION OF SHOPS.

“A rumour has been going round Wellington that shops would open on the King’s Birthday, but such a course is quite unnecessary and would only lead to loss and confusion,” said Mr A. W. Croskery (secretary of tho Shop Assistants’ Union). “The rumour has been that 6hop assistants would give. tlieir services and contribute the pay earned to the Red Cross Fund.”

As far as the union is concerned, ii was emphatically denied that any such suggestion had been made. The King’s Birthday w-as a holiday under the Shop Assistants’ Award, and , there had been no request from the employers- for any alteration. To open on a holiday when the public did not -want to shop would inflict a serious loss upon the employers and probably lead to confusion through some opening while others remained closed. RED CROSS APPEAL. Representatives of the trade union movement met Mr C. H. Chapman, M.P. (president of the Wellington Red Cross Association) to-day to discuss the question of the Red ■ Cross appeal, said Mr Croskery, and a resolution was carried heartily endorsing the appeal and giving the fullest co-operation to secure funds, “We are opposed, however,” stated the resolution, “to any interference with our awards or industrial agreements, or any suggestion that the money earned by the workers in tho coiuse of their daily or weekly employment should be compulsorily deducted from the same. We are further opposed to employers collecting from their employees funds on this behalf unless agreed to and endorsed by the union concerned.”