FORTY-HOUR WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22532, 24 September 1936, Page 13

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

RAILWAY STAFFS PROGRESS OF ADJUSTMENT MINISTER'S ASSURANCE [BY TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A statement that at least two-thirds of the 3000 officers employed in the first division of the Railways Department were actually enjoying a 40-hour week or less and that the same conditions would apply to the balance of the clerical stafF as soon as circumstances would permit, was mado by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when replying to an urgent question asked by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition—Kaipara) in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Coates asked whether members of the clerical and official staff of the railways were to receive the same treatment as other members of the railway staff in the introduction of the 40-hour week. He also inquired if these officials were being granted conditions equal to those enjoyed by other sections of the 'service pending trained staff being availahlo to allow the 40hour week to become fully operative. "This question is being asked on representations made to me by members of the railway service in my electorate." explained Mr. Coates. Mr. Sullivan said members of the clerical staff were paid at an annual rate and enjoyed much more generous conditions than did members of the second division, particularly in regard to sick and annual leave. Mr. H. G. Dickie (Opposition— Patea): Are those not working the 40hour week being paid overtime? Mr. Sullivan: No, none of them. It was not unreasonable, added the Minister, to hope that the salaried staff of the department who were not yet enjoying complete 40-hour week conditions and who were mostly engaged at stations outside the' main centres wonld continue to work under the modified conditions obtaining until such time as the circumstances would permit of the complete institution of the 40-hour week, which was being brought, about with the utmost despatch.

SAFETY OF ARAPUNI DEFENCE BY MR. COATES REPLY TO MINISTER [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Humours that the Arapuni power works were unsafe were contradicted by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition—Kaipara), during the discussion on the Public Works Statement in tho House of Representatives early this morning. Air. Coates quoted from the statement and said that the impression might be gained that there was some deficiency in regard to Arapuni. There was a hue and cry between 1928 and 1930. Mr. Coates proceeded to refer to criticism of the scheme made by the j present Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, when Mr. Semple interjected and said that he stood by what he had said, and that no man could say it was safe, and no engineer could say it was safe, in view of the type of foundation. He said Mr. (Coates had said the trouble at Arapuni had not been unexpected, and it had been a question whether certain steps should be taken at the beginning or not. Mr. J. O'Brien (Government —Westland): Did not Mr. Furkert (a former engineer-in-chief of Public Works) say that he would not advise the Government to spend another £5 on it? Mr. Coates: No. The reports were all in the other direction. He added that Mr. Semple had assumed that the foundations had given way, but it was ascertained that the turbine was faulty. Mr. O'Brien: A New. Zealand fitter found that out, not an expert from Sweden. Mr. Coates said that if experts counted for anything Mr. Semple would say that Arapuni met the requirements of" the public ansj[ was as safe as one would wish it to be. Mr. O'Brien: In that country? Mr. Coates: I would say that as a result of the precautions taken it is perfectly safe. OVERTIME PAYMENTS RATES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Contending that the Government should be prepared to take its own medicine, Mr. S. G. Holland (Opposition—Christchurch North) alleged during the debate on the Public Works Statement in the House of Representatives that the Government was going to pay its own employees three-quarters of the ordinary rate of pay when they worked overtime, whereas such men in private employment must be paid , at the rate of time and a-half. " It seems to me," he added, " that this is a k:nd of Irishman's rise. Let us carry the discussion a little further. Let us take a plan in private employ drawing £470 a year for a 40-hour week. That is, 4s 8d an hour. The rate of overtime for that worker would -in private employ be 7s an hour. We find that the Government is going to pay such a man exactly half what it dpmands that tho private employer shall pay. It is going to pay him 3s 6d an hour." , , rt Mr. Holland said be expected a Government which asked the people to take its medicine, actually to take its own medicine, lo do so iii this case would mean doubling tho overtime rates for civil servants.