FIRST SHORT WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22517, 7 September 1936, Page 11

FIRST SHORT WEEK

RUSH ON THE SHOPS CLOSING OF FACTORIES UNUSUAL SATURDAY QUIET One obn'ous effect of the first of the 40 and 44-hour weeks in Auckland was a tremendous increase in shopping pressure on Saturday morning, and a strange quiet in manufacturing areas in that period. J n some cases, where senior office workers had been accustomed in the past to starting later than the juniors, the fixation of working hours has actually resulted in longer hours for some workers. Only the factory workers of the large stores have been given a 40-hour week, the sales and office staffs working 44 hours. Before the orders for the reduction of hours were made, Auckland stores used to open at 8.30 a.m. Now they have decided to open at 8.50, because, in any case, very little business was done in the first 20 minutes or so after opening at 8..'J0. Busy Housewives Any visitor to the city on Saturday could notice the effect of earlier closing. Housewives also knew the effect at home, because the fact that they had only until noon to do their shopping meant that the housework had to be rushed through more quickly than usual. All the large stores were crowded with shoppers throughout the morning, and many had not completed their purchases when noon camo, and they had to be ushered from the premises. Even as late at 12.10 p.m. some of the stores still had their doors ajar.

The noon closing on Saturday also resulted in an increase in the crowds ill the city on Friday night, for those workers who usually attend to their shopping after 12 o clock on Saturday had to do it on Friday. Managers of businesses said on Saturday that their stores had not been affected by whatever decrease in production there had been, however, because for some weeks before September 1 factories had been anticipating the introduction of the 40-hour week by increasing their output. More Work Expected

Several stores reported that the introduction of shorter hours had led to minor invasions of applications for positions they expected would be created. But it was too soon to say what effects the new legislation would have upon flic staffing arrangements. Nor could any idea of the effect of shorter hours and higher wages on sales in all departments yet be computed. Streets in industrial areas in the city, particularly in Freeman's Bay, wore quieter than usual on Saturday morning, for the machinery of various mills and engineering works was not operating. There also was less traffic on the streets. Where a number of foundries, monumental masons and other heavy trades were situated close together, the atmosphere was more like that of a Sunday than of an ordinary week-day. The fact that so many men were not working probably accounted for the large groups which stood talking at street corners in near by residential areas during the morning.

TRAM MEN'S HOURS LONG PERIODS OFF DUTY The 40-botir week was inaugurated in the Auckland tramway system yesterday. A most complicated task was involved in revising the duty sorters, with their straight shifts, broken shifts, stand-by men and allowances for Sunday work. Instead ot having one Sunday in three off, the men will now work only on alternate Sundays and will' take turn about with the morning and night shifts. Most of the motorinen and conductors who were on duty yesterday will be off to-day and to-morrow. Extreme cases of the operation of the shorter week and allowance for Sunday work, which will occur occasionally, will permit the men to put away their trams on a Thursday night and they will not be required for duty again until the following Tuesday. It is one of the privileges of the service thai; men may nominate themselves for the various runs and shifts and when changes have to be made, their claims are considered. With the long week-ends in prospect keen competition has developed for shifts which will make the week-ends correspond with events on various sporting calendars Little difficulty is experienced on Saturday in catering for the traffic at the altered peak periods.