40-HOUR WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22493, 10 August 1936, Page 11

40-HOUR WEEK

DECISIONS OF COURT SUMMARY OF JUDGMENTS many trades dealt with SEVERAL DECISIONS PENDING The Wellington sitting of the Arbitration Court to deal with 40-hour week applications is drawing to a close, and decisions have been given in many important industries. A review of the decisions so far made shows that although a 40-hour week has not been held impracticable in the majority of rases, the hours have been extended to 44 i» several of the principal occupations.

In a number of important industries reserved judgments have not yet been given, while in other cases adjournments have been made to centres outside Wellington. At least 25 of the cases fdod for hearing have been withdrawn since the sitting started. In nianv of these instances employers have decided to adopt a 40-hour week, but in others employees have withdrawn their applications. This was done by a section of the hairdressers after a decision providing for a 44-hour week was given in the grocery trade. Principle Voluntarily Adopted Some large'employers of labour have voluntarily adopted the 40-hour week without an order from the Court. This course mus adopted by the Auckland Transport. Hoard, which has concluded new agreements with its employees embodying the principle. In some cases where a 40-hour week has been declined, the Court has simply stated that it. would be impracticable in the industry. The length of the processes involved, pressure of overseas competition, controlled prices limiting profits, the perishable nature tit the product, established customs and the daily needs of the general public, and the exigencies of related industries, have been given as grounds for ruling that a 40-hour week, or no work on Saturday, would be impracticable in various undertakings.

Decisions as to Saturday work have varied considerably. In some industries the Court has allowed Saturday work, even with a -ID-hour week, and it has been permitted' in most cases where a 44-hour week has been ordered. Where seasonal variations of hours have been allowed there lias sometimes been a reduction during half the year to compensate for an increase during the busy period, while in other cases hours have been extended to I t for half the year, with no reduction below -10 in the remainder. Summary of Decisions The decisions in some industries apply only to portion of the Dominion, applications not having been made in respect of all industrial districts. The following is a summary of the decisions so far given: 40-HOUR WE UK Footwear manufacturers; ammunition manufacturers; C'hristchurch, New Plymouth, lnvcrcargill and Wanganui tramways (by agreement), and Duneiliu; men's and boys' clothing, shirt, white and silk, dressmaking and millinery manufacturers; tie-makers; hosiery -and knitting factories; furniture manufactures and related trades; building and related trades; manufacturing jewellers; car assembly factory mechanics (by agreement); general motor mechanics; coachbuildcrs; biscuit and confectionery manufacturers (by agreement); range-makers; manure manufacturers (by agreement); tallow, acid, soap and candle makers; fur garment manufacturers; acetone gas manufacturers; sawmills; timber yards; boxmakers; woollen mills; paper mills; oil company workers (by agreement); Wellington and Chrietchureh gasworks maintenance men, shiftmen and section of other workers; Dunediu Brewery and A\ il.son Malt Extract Company, Limited (by agreement); West port Coal Company coke workers; monumental masons. 41-HOUR WEEK Bakers; pottery manufacturers; garage attendants (by agreement) and petrol station mechanics; burnt lime manufacturers; grocers; butchers; tanners; by-products manufacturers, fellmongers; bacon factories (except females and males under 16); certain canning and preserving factories; Wellington and Christehurch gasworks, yardsmen, section of drivers, and complaints men. ' SEASONAL VARIATION Aerated water and cordial manufacturers (36 hours in winter and 44 in summer); carbonate of lime and shell lime manufacturers (1-1 hours for six months and 40 for remainder); golf club manufacturers (44 hours from February to July and 36 for remainder); certain jam-making and peserving factories (14 hours in summer and 40 in winter). VARIATION WITH BUSINESS Orders have been made fixing the hours of storemcn and packers, and of enginedrivers, firemen and greasers, at between 40 and 44, according to the hours work"d b.v the concerns to which they are at l ached.

MONUMENTAL MASONS REDUCED houus practicable Weekly hours of work for stone and monumental masons have been fixed si 40 in a reserved judgment delivered b. v the Arbitration Court. Applications wore made to the Court to amend the Canterbury and Dunedin stonemasons' awards, allowing for a 40-hour week, Slid corresponding applications were fiade on behalf of five factory occupiers for an extension of hours to 44. Ihe Court expressed the opinion that flie impracticability of carrying on the industry with a 40-hour week had not been established. The week would extend from .Monday to Friday.