40-HOUR WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 14

40-HOUR WEEK

LEAD BY GOVERNMENT ALL BRANCHES OF SERVICE ASSURANCE BY MR. SAVAGE " SWALLOWING OWN MEDICINE " [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A statement that the 40-hour week principle would apply to all branches of the Public Service was made to-day by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage. "We cannot expect private employers to swallow the Government's medicine unless the Government is prepared to swallow it as well," said Mr. Savage. "It is not possible to carry the application of the principle into effect within a week or two, but it will be done as soon as is humanly possible." The Prime Minister said ho considered that a 40-hour week should be the maximum that should bo worked by the Government service. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill made provision for employers to state any objections against the 40-hour week, but tho Government, as an employer, would not state a case against it. It would be extraordinary if it were to do so. EFFECT ON BUILDING higher Costs certain VIEWS OF MR. JAMES FLETCHER [by telegraph —own correspondent] DUNEDIN, Tuesday The view that a slowing-up of work and substantially increased costs in tlw building industry will result from ttoo introduction of the 40-hour week is held bv Mr. James Fletcher, managingdirector of the Fletcher Construction Company, Limited. Mr. Fletcher said that there was no Question but that one of tho industries which would bo brought under the new legislation would bo tho building industry. Undoubtedly this would mean a general slow-up of building operations, as there was a scarcity of skilled labour at tho present- time, more particularly among bricklayers and joiners. One'of the greatest problems confronting those engaged in the building industry was the apprenticeship question, and some radical changes were required to increase the facilities for training bovs. In the last four years only about'2o boys had been trained in the industry over the whole of tho Dominion, whereas in normal times there would have been hundreds. I"'** fact-, combined with the retirement of men who had passed the age when they were lit for work, had created a shortage of skilled men. _i j. 1 It was certain, said Mr. Fletcher, that tho application of the 40-hour Aveek to the industry, as well as to those industries from which its supplies were drawn, would result in a substantial increase in the cost of building.

ADOPTION IN STRATFORD MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO COUNCIL [by telegraph—own correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH. Tuesday Stratford may be the first town in Taranaki to see the introduction of a 40-hour week. The intention to move at the next meeting of .the Stratford Borough Council that the 40-hour week be introduced for both the inside and outside staffs of the council was notified to the council last night by the Mavor, Mr. J. W. McMillan. Mr. McMillan said he felt the 40-hour week was bound to come, and he was convinced that the business of the borough would not suffer by its adoption. '