MENTAL HOSPITALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22523, 14 September 1936, Page 11

MENTAL HOSPITALS

EMPLOYEES' HOURS REDUCED STATEMENT BY MINISTER Arrangements are being made for a reduction pf the hours of iVOrk of attendants in mental hospitals, according to a statement by the' Minister in charge of Mental Hospitals, the Hon. P. Fraser. The matter had been a very difficult one, the Minister said, owing to various factors peculiar to the service, but fortunately valuable assistance had been received from the Public Service Association, the secretary, Mr. F. W. Millar, having visited the principal mental hospitals, where he discussed the position with the staffs. Every effort would now be made toward the operation of reduced hours from October 1. The new arrangements would involve a long working day and a short, one alternately, with every third day off, and every sixth month off, the result being that staffs would work 41$ hours a week, spread over the working year. The present working hours, after making allowance for all leave, represented just under 53 hours a week. The new conditions would ensure that the care of patients would not be affected. As there were no practical obstacles the hours of work of the domestic and artisan employees would be reduced to 40 a week, but the hours of work on mental hospital farms had not yet been fixed. A definite announcement would be made as soon as possible.