NO SMOKING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22695, 6 April 1937, Page 8

NO SMOKING

BOEOUGH EMPLOYEES DEG ISI ON AT WHANGAREI MEN TO BE REINSTATED [by telegraph—owx correspondent] WHANGAREI, Monday The question -whether employees of the Whangarei Borough Council should be allowed time for "smokos" -was discussed at a special meeting of the council to-night. Fifteen employees who were engaged on sewerage work in Rust Lane were dismissed by the engineer. Mr. H. W. Cormack, last Wednesday, when, against his orders, they persisted in taking time off before lunch for a "smoko." The men affected sought the council's decision and the work in Rust Lane was temporarily suspended. The Mayor, Mr. W. Jones, moved that the council should not grant the right to its employees to have time off for smoking while engaged on borough work, and that the men who had been dismissed should be reinstated. It was also moved that no organised "smokos" should be observed unless the time occupied was made up.

Mr. R. S. Finch, chairman of tha Works Committee, in seconding tie motion, said the men already had a 40-hour week, and this concession would mean a reduction of nearly anotbet hour a week.

The general secretary of the Auckland Builders' and General Labourers' Union, Mr. T. Stanley, spoke in support of the men's cause.

The deputy-mayor, Mr. G. H. Morrish, said that in view of the conditions under which men were working on the sewerage job, lie could not vote against their having a short spell for smoking. Mr. A. T. Brainsby also opposed the motion.

The motion was carried by seven votes to three.