HOURS OF WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22515, 4 September 1936, Page 14

HOURS OF WORK

EXTENSION SOUGHT WOMEN DAIRY WORKERS APPLICATION BY EMPLOYERS An application by dairy factories which employ females in packing butter and processing cheese for an extension of weekly hours to 4-1, made under the Factories Amendment Act, JIWG, .was heard in the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr. W. E. Anderson, secretary of the Auckland Employers' Association, appeared in support of the application, which was opposed by Mr. J. I'. John, secretary of the Dairy Factory Workers' Union.

The hours of work of all the male workers had already been lixed by the Court, Mr. Anderson said. Females were employed by the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company in six establishments. Altogether, between .'55 and 40 girls were employed. The work of the factories would bo disorganised if the hours of females were made much shorter than those of the men, with whom they worked in teams, Mr. Anderson continued. Saturday morning work was necessary to pat, label and pack butter made on Fridays. In reply to a question by the president of the Court, Mr. Justice Page, Mr. Anderson said that although nis application related to the whole Do minion ho had no evidence from the South, lie did not know any other dairy factories in the North which employed girls. After evidence had been given in support of the application, Mr. Anderson said that the company was prepared to try a 40-hour week if permission were granted to work on Saturdays. He asked that an order should be made accordingly, and the right reserved to reopen the question at the next sitting of the Court if the proposition proved impracticable. Saturday work was opposed by .Mr. John. He held that the re was no reason, technical or otherwise, why a 40-hour week should not be introduced for the women employees. Decision was reserved by the Court.

SETTLEMENT REACHED MUSICIANS AND EMPLOYERS A complete settlement of the Auckland performing musicians' dispute was reported when the case was called in the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr. W. E. Anderson represented the employers, and Mr. E. hgerton appeared 011 behalf of the union. "We have come to an agreement on all clauses," Mr. Egerton said. Two matters not agreed upon in conciliation had since been settled. An order was made in terms of the. agreement. Various other parties were added. An application by the iSew Zealand Institute for tho Blind to be struck out as a party was opposed by Mr. Egerton, who said the institute band was a strong competitor. In reply to a suggestion by Mr. Anderson, ho agreed to confer with representatives of the institute to endeavour to obtain an agreement on the matter of fees.

THEATRE WORKERS' DISPUTE

HOURS AND WAGES CLAIMS [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday A dispute between the Wellington Industrial District Theatrical and Places of Amusement Employees' Union and J. C. Williamson, Limited, and others, was heard in conciliation today. The hours of work sought were 32 for ticket sellers, and 36 for other theatre attendants. Tho wages asked were from £2 12s Gd for ticket sellers, to £4 12s (3d for adult ticket takers, doorkeepers and others. Eor caretakers and cleaners a 40-hour week was claimed, and wages at the rate of £5 10s a week and 3s an hour for cleaners other than caretakers. The counter-claims askfid for liberty to fix the hours in continuous theatres according to the exigencies of tho theatre, but agreed to an ordinary 32 and 36-hour week. The wages offered were £1 10s 7d for youth female ticket sellers, £2 7s 6d for male ticket sellers and other theatre attendants, and £1 10s 6d for females and youths. For caretakers a 48-hour week was sought, with wages at £3 lis 6d a week.