FORTY-HOUR WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 12

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

BUILDERS' OBJECTIONS LOCAL SHORTAGE OF LABOUR A motion strongly protesting against the proposed introduction of a 40-hour week in the building industry was passed at a well-attended meeting of the Auckland Master Builders' Association. The provision of a subsidy by the lato Government had greatly assisted the building trade, but it was feared that all this good work would be undone if the present Government were to withdraw the subsidy, and at the same time increase costs. Another objection peculiar to Auckland was the shortage of skilled labour in the city. The Government's suggestion that the application of a shorter working week would furnish work for more men did not apply in Auckland, as even at present contractors were having difficulty in securing good tradesmen. Numbers of builders, further, were committed to long-term contracts based on ruling conditions, and the introduction of the shorter week would involve them in considerable loss through wages alone. Other reasons for the opposition to the proposed week were that costs of materials would be increased and interest charges would be raised through extension of time for the completion of contracts.