EXTENDED HOURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22504, 22 August 1936, Page 16

EXTENDED HOURS

APPLICATIONS IIEAEI) RUBBER AND STARCH MAKERS CLAIMS MADE BY COMPANIES COURT RESERVES DECISIONS Two applications for extensions of hours, under the Factories Amendment Act, 193G, were heard in the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr. W. F. Anderson, secretary of tho Auckland Employers' Association, appeared in support of both applications, which were opposed by .Air. W. A. Sill, 011 behalf of the employees. Ihe Reid New Zealand Rubber Mills, Limited, of Auckland, sought an extension of hours from 10 to 44 a week; an extension of daily hours from 8 to Si; an extension of continuous work without a meal from 4.'. to 4J hours; and the right to work the plant maintenance hands on Saturday mornings. Mr. Anderson said the company was entirely a New Zealand concern, and was in 110 way related to any overseas organisation. Tho products included milking-machine fittings, general tubing and rubber goods. The present hours worked by the day shift were from 7.00 a.m. to 5 p.m., with half an hour for lunch, on live days a week, making a total of 15 hours. The night shift when worked was from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., with a break, on five nights a week, making about 44 hours a week Problems to be Faced The reasons for the application were: —(1) If a 40-hour week wero ordered, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the company to cater for the business offering; (2) the increased labour costs which would result would increase the difficulty which the company was experiencing in competing with overseas manufacturers; (3) a 40-hour week would require additional experienced workers, which were not available.

Inability to supply orders would damage the company's goodwill in the local market, Mr. Anderson said. Lack of plant and shortage of trained operatives would prevefit the company from fulfilting orders if the 40-hour week was ordered. The company could not increase its prices to meet increased costs, because there was no tariff protection. A 40-hour week would mean less employment, and not more. George Chapman Ward Reid, managing director of the company, and other witnesses gave evidence on the lines of Mr. Anderson's statement.

Mr. Sill held that the applicants had failed to establish their case that a 40hour week was impracticable. . Decision was reserved by the Court. Perishable Materials

An extension of hours to 44 a week, and to eight hours worked continuously on shift work without an interval for a meal, was sought by the Union Oil, Soap and Candle Company, Limited, of Auckland, in respect of starch workers. Mr. Anderson said that in Wellington a judgment had been given for a 44hour week with Saturday work for the starch workers. He asked that the judgment should be extended to Auckland. In reply to an inquiry by Mr. Jus-

tice Page, president of the Court, Mr. Anderson said he had not intended calling evidence. He said that if a 44-hour week could not be granted, they would try a 40-hour week, provided that Sat-

urday work was permitted, and would

work the same hours as the candle and 6oap sections. Some of the material was perishable and Saturday work was thus essential. Mr. Sill: I do not feel justified in agreeing. I have a witness who will say that Saturday work is not necessary. _ The president said his recollection of the Wellington case was that Saturday work was necessary. Evidence was heard on the point whether it was practicable to leave certain materials from Friday night to Monday morning. ** The Court reserved its decision. SHORTER WEEK GRANTED WELLINGTON CITY DEPARTMENTS [BY TELEGRAPH —PBKSS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Friday Bv judgments to-day the Abitration Court gives a 40-hour week to the employees in various departments of the Wellington City Council, also to the Christchurch city abattoirs. The daily hours are to be subject to an arrangement. The court refused to amend the Canterbury Gardeners, Nursery and Landscape award on the ground that the industry was much affected by the ■weather.