WORKING WEEK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 206, 1 August 1941, Page 6

WORKING WEEK

48 HOURS ADVOCATED. FOR DURATION OF WAR

t) In support of arguments presented |. at discussions of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce on tho question of the 40-hour Avoek and the war effort, in Avhieli lie had advocated an extension of hours of Avork in New Zealand to meet production needs, a personal statement has been issued by Mr 31. G. C. 3fcCaul, giving suggestions as to how a universal 48-hour Avcck for the period of the Avar could lie intros duced and operated. Tho statement 2 stresses that the suggested change in ' hours of Avork “is purely a Avar measure, and that the question of Avhethcr ' a 40-hour Aveek is, or is not, a sound • peace-time measure is not involved.” 1 31r McCaul contends that the present practice Avhereby the onus is placed I on industry to prove to the Industrial ; Emergency Council the necessity for ■ increased Avorking hours should he re--1 versed. “Every industry, business and profession should Avork longer hours 1 and harder during tho period of the Avar,” he says, “unless those immediately concerned, Avhethcr employers or employees, can prove that in their particular case it is neither necessary nor in the public interest.” The folloAving suggestions are made by 31r McCaul:— “That a six-dav 48-hour week be instituted under the Avar regulations Avitli the proviso that hours worked in excess of 40 a Avcck up to 48 be paid for at ordinary rates. “That the Industrial Emergency Council be retained to consider applications from employers or employees for modification of the Avorking hours in any form of employment for any reason and, in particular, for the reason that employment cannot be found for the staff over the longer week. “That Avhere practicable labour be. transferred from industries over-sup-plied to industries that are short of labour. “That AA’orkers transferred from one employer to another under this plan have the same right of reinstatement with their old employers as in the case of soldiers. “That employers who relinquish Avorkers to another industry under this plan have the right to apply for their return if subsequently required and the public interest permits.” TRANSFER OF LABOUR. In explanation of the suggestions Mr McCaul says that if a 48-hour Aveek Averc adopted the regulations could provide for it to become effective one month after the date of proclamation, Avitli a proviso that in cases Avhere an < appeal had been made to the Industrial I Emergency Council for the fixing of a i shorter Avorking A\-cek, the industry concerned could continue to work the ’ hours previously in force till its case . had been decided. I

“When applications came before the council the question could be considered whether, by adopting a 48-hour week, the applicant for a shorter week could spare labour for industries that were under-supplied, and Avhether the transfer of such labour Avas practicable Avithout undue hardship to either employer or employees “It will be recognised that in some cases there may he no advantage to be gained in any Avay by extending hours of labour in a particular industry beyond 40 a Aveek. In such eases the Industrial Emergency Council Avould meet the request of the applicant that the hours should be reduced to 40. “In industries whore a 48-hour Aveek is not sufficient to enable- production to overtake the demand, the Avorking of shifts is preferable to extending the hours beyond 48. Accordingly, the working of overtime should he discouraged except in cases of emergency and where sufficient Avorkers are not available to institute shifts.”