48-HOUR WEEK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 2 December 1940, Page 4

48-HOUR WEEK

NEW REGULATION FOR TIMBER INDUSTRY GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY [United Press Association] GREYMOUTH, 30th November. Taking effect as from to-day, a regulation has been gazetted by the Government providing for the working of a 48-hour week in West Coast sawmills and in some of the North Island mills in order to increase the K production of timber for use in the manufacture of butter boxes during the currency of the regulation. The extra eight hours worked each week are to be paid for at the rate of time and a half. Of the overtime paid, the Government is to refund 75 per cent to the sawmillers. The secretary of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union (Mr F. L. Turley) said that the award provided that overtime for the first four hours should be paid for at the rate of time and a half and after that double time. The provision had, therefore, been suspended so far as the second four hours’ period was concerned. Assuming that the mills in the North Island were included, the Government would be subsidising approximately 1200 men. Mr Turley said that many of the men on the West Coast did not like to work a full day on Satui’day, and he believed that if the new regulation was to act smoothly the matter of arranging for the working of the extra, hours should be left to the branches of the union. Application for an extension of the hours was in the first place made by the employees. Mr J. W. Calhvell. secretary of the West Coast Sawrr.illers’ Association said that the sawmillers would carry out the request of the Government to the best of their ability.