FORTY-HOUR WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 8

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

THE PUBLIC SERVICE ADOPTION INTENDED | reports being obtained FURTHER REDUCTION. HINT [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Monday The operation of the 40-hour week in the public service will be determined in the near future, as in the case of private industry, on the grounds of prao. tic-ability, according to a statement made this evening by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage. "The Arbitration Court at present is basing its decisions regarding the 40hour week on the practicability of the reduced working hours in particular industries," said the Prime Minister, "and it will be for the Government to adopt a similar procedure with regard to the various branches of the public service." Promise to be Kept Mr. Savage recalled a previous state* ment that heshad made on the subject when he said that the Government would have to be prepared to swallow the same medicine that it was administering to other people. "That statement still stands," he continued. "Our aim is to reduce working hours so that a 'man may' enjoy the fruits of modern science and invention, so that he will be the master of the machine and not its slave. It would be manifestly impossible tcr exclude the public service from that policy. We hope to give the benefits of the 40-hour week to the different branches as soon as possible, but the question of practicability naturally arises. The March of Science "For instance, we are told that in some instances men in the Railways Department are working up to 60 hours a week. That will certainly be changed, but it cannot be changed over a weekend. However, there will be no undue delay and as soon as possible the 40hour week will be in operation on as wide a scale as possible. "We do not intend even to stop there. Scientific invention and mechanical improvements do not stop while we are talking and it is not beyond th« bounds of possibility that working hours may be reduced below 40 as condition* warrant." Postal and Railway Staffs It was difficult to say when any reduction in working hours would be introduced in any particular branch of the public service, the Prime Minister added. One of the first duties of the new Public Service Commissioner, who would have to be appointed shortly, would be to report on the whole question, with particular reference to the point of practicability. In the Post and Telegraph Department the DirectorGeneral would probably have to provide a report. The Railways Department was also outside the control of the Public Service Commissioner and the Prime Minister understood that the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. 6. Sullivan, had called for a report from his departmental officers on the question of reductions in hours of work.