PAID HOLIDAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23068, 20 June 1938, Page 13

PAID HOLIDAYS

NO BILL THIS SESSION NEW LEGISLATION NEEDED INFORMATION FROM BRITAIN [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Saturday The view that legislation should be put through making provision for paid holidays for workers in all industries in New Zealand was expressed by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in. an interview to-day. The Minister explained that a number of awards now made provision for annual holidays and for the payment for various statutory holidays as they occurred. In some industries, the Minister continued, there was no payment for holidays, and tho unfortunate thing was that the general labourer, for instance, lost so much time through causes over which ho had no control. It was noteworthy that in their last agreement the coal-miners had secured payment for a 10 working days' holiday at Christmas. Amendments to tho holiday provisions in the present legislation were very necessary, but it was not intended to put a bill through Parliament this session, said Mr. Armstrong. The Labour Department had gone into the question of having a holiday bill prepared, but nothing had been done beyond that stage. Mr. Armstrong said he had just received a copy of the report of the committee appointed by tho British Minister of Labour to inquire into the question of annual holidays. Ihe committee had reported favourably on the subject. Tho British Government,-Mr. Armstrong said he understood, intended to give effect to the principal recommendations in the report, which contained much information of value to New Zealand.