SATURDAY WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22524, 15 September 1936, Page 10

SATURDAY WORK

DOCKYARD PROTEST MEN DECIDE TO RESUME ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT "WILL NOT BE COERCED", Work by civilian employees at Calliopo Dock, Devonport, will continue on Saturday mornings until such time as the Government is able to introduco tbn 40-hour week principle. This was unanimously agreed to at a meeting yesterday morning, when the Government's case was explained to the men by the Hon. P. Fraser, deputy-leader of the Government.

Mr, Fraser said the Government viewed with the greatest concern the fart that tho men had absented themselves from work on two successive Saturdays. It had been understood after tho first occasion that the matter had been adjusted amicably, so the repetition of the trouble came as a great surprise.

The men's action appeared hostile to tho Government and its policy and coercive in its intention, said Mr. Fraser. The Government, however, was aware that this was not in fact the intention of the men. "The Government will not bo coorced by any individual or organisation, and the sooner this is understood the better it will be for all concerned," he added.

40-Hour Week Difficulties Authority had been given him to take definite and decisive steps to prevent a repetition of tho trouble, which, if persisted in,, was calculated to undermine tho Government's authority, added the Minister. His instructions covered a wide range of possibilities, some of which would have been regrettable if unavoidable. However, he had learned on his arrival in Auckland that" the trouble was mainly due to a misunderstanding. The manager of the naval base, it seemed, had been unable to give a complete and definite reply to the men.

Mr. Eraser said he was disappointed that workers had not understood and accepted the fact that the introduction of the 40-hour week in some industries would take a considerable time, due to necessary " readjustments. Had they understood the position, he was sure there would have been no trouble. Outbreaks only complicated matters, inevitably making them more difficult to adjust. Plea for 00-operation

The Government intended to apply the 40-hour week at the dock as soon as the necessary adjustments were made, the Minister continued. Meanwhile he asked the men to accept the present hours and work on Saturday mornings. He had no authority to make a definite promise, but he felt sure that in the event of the workers' co-operation with the Government in this matter the events of the past two weeks would be overlooked as far as conditions and concessions were concerned. It was not the Government's intention to make things difficult for anyone. Mr.'W. B. Cameron, president of the Engineers* Union and an employee at the dock, moved that the men express their complete confidence in the Government, and pledge themselves to cooperate with it in the manner suggested by resuming work under the existing conditions until the Government Svas able to introduce the 40-hour week.'

The motion was carried unanimously, and the Minister was thanked for meeting the men and explaining the position.-- *■•••■

FERTILISER EMPLOYEES POSITION AT WESTFIELD The men employed in the fertiliser works of Kempthorne, Prosser and Company's New Zealand Drug Company, Limited,? at Westfield, who absented themselves from work on Saturday, returned yesterday morning. A disagreement between fertiliser workers and the company over the payment of overtime for Saturday work was responsible for the stoppage of ivqrk, according to a statement made yesterday by Mr. K. Tyly, president of the Manure Workers' Union. "Following representations from the men, the three works managers decided to discontinue Saturday work except under certaiu conditions, one of which was that men were to be paid overtime for Saturday work," Mr. Tyly said. "On the previous Saturday, a certain number of men were engaged for the'morning at overtime rates. The men worked and were now refused the overtime rates. They did not work under protest." , Mr. Tyly said that manufacture of superphosphate was carried on as. usual at the works on Saturday, there being no interruption. However, that section of the employees engaged in the despatch of manures, in addition to the fittors, did not attend work because they held that the agreement reached between the various managers and tho men had not been adhered to.