40-HOUR WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22541, 5 October 1936, Page 10

40-HOUR WEEK

RAILWAY OFFICERS

PARTIAL OPERATION MEN URGED TO BE PATIENT LARGE COST INVOLVED Tho Pail way Department's attitude to the 'lO-hour week for first division men was explained by the general manager, Mr. G. H. Mackloy, in leplj to remarks by the president of tho Railway Officers' Institute, Mr. E. W. Barnes] of Wellington, at fhra annual reunion of the Auckland branch oi tho institute on Saturday night. Mr. Barnes said tho institute had not made tho progress it bad hoped in negotiations with the department over tho 40-hour week. It bad not pressed for its inauguration before tho principle was laid down, but it then lelt there should be equal treatment over the whole service. They realised the 40hour week could not be introduced all at once, but if others in tho service were meantime being paid for the hours they worked over 40, it was lelt that members of the institute at country stations who worked more than 40 hours should bo dealt with in the same manner.

Mr. Mack ley referred to the advantages of continuous employment enjoyed by railwaymen during the slump, and quoted figures to show tho progress in wages since 1911. Introducing the 40-hour week was a big task and would cost £289,000 this year, in addition. to £197,000 for wage restorations. It had never been understood that tho 40-hour week was to bo introduced into any department in the first year of the Government's tenure of office. Although the first division had not got it 100 per cent, they were getting it as quickly as possible.

There had been rather an unfortunate experience with 100 cadets who had been taken 011. Some had failed to pass the medical examination and some had taken other employment. Of the MOO iirst division men, 1800 were now enjoying a 40-hour week or less. First division men enjoyed double the annual leave, sick pay and other privileges as compared with the second division. In any case, second division men wore in a different position, as they were paid 011 an hourly basis. They were not being paid overtime as such for hours worked over 40, but only for the time worked. The institute's representatives had been asked to come back in six months' time. Ho asked them to he patient, and he was sure they were losing nothing meantime.