WORKERS IN INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24049, 21 August 1941, Page 11

WORKERS IN INDUSTRY

DEMANDS OF ARMED FORCES SHIFT WORK AND OVERTIME (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday "It is, perhaps, too early to draw definite conclusions as to the effect of the transfer of men to the armed forces and as to the ;extent that women have replaced them," says the annual report of the Department of Labour, which was presented in the House to-day. "Employment in the motor and cycle engineering trades, which recorded an increase from 4806 in 1933-34 to 8399 in 1939-40, fell away to 7258," the report -"Apart from the effect of the rationing of petrol, the withdrawal of men for Air Force units has probably affected this trade in a greater ratio than others. "With the necessity for greater production in several trades for war purposes, shift work for women has been introduced by emergency regulations, and similar provision has been made for male workers on certain essential war work where such provision had not been made in awards of the Arbitration Court. The importance, at a time when expansion or replacement of plant and machines is a matter of difficulty or impossibility, of the fuller use of equipment and buildings possible under a shift system has not been generally appreciated. Overtime worked in factories during the year discloses a considerable increase." NEURASTHENIC SOLDIERS FACILITIES FOR RECOVERY (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday "The requirements of the soldiers suffering from neurasthenia are under immediate examination and every possible facility will be provided for the promotion of the health of returned soldiers," said the acting-Prime, Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, in the House today, in reply to a question concerning neurasthenic soldiers. A LAW SOCIETY PROTEST (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday A resolution of protest forwarded by the council of the New Zealand Law Society regarding the passing of the Small Farms Amendment Act has been received by the Government, according to a statement made by the actingPrime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, in the Housii to-day. Mr. Nash said in reply to a request to inform the House of the terms ol the resolution that there was no procedure under the rules ol the House whereby the opinions of outside organisations on Acts of Parliament could be introduced, but there was not, nor had there ever been, any intention of suppressing evidence of value to the Dominion.