TRAMS AND MANPOWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24250, 16 April 1942, Page 8

TRAMS AND MANPOWER

ESSENTIAL DECLARATION NOT DESIRED BY UNION A majority decision that it would not be in the public interest to have tramways declared an essential industry, as there was no need -for skilled tradesmen to be retained if their places could be filled by other workers not so trained, was reached at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Tramway Authorities Employees' Union, states the Labour newspaper, the Standard. The fact that, from a membership of 2700, over 600 were serving in the armed forces had admittedly brought about a serious shortage of staff, and the extent to which the executive had agreed to an extension of hours to alleviate the position was endorsed. It was decided that representations should be made to the Minister of Public Works urging that committees should immediately be set up in the various centres affected, upon which branches of this union and the local tramways authority should be given equal representation, for the purpose of reviewing the whole question of the manpower available and of its utilisation, thereby ensuring that all the available staff would be used to the best advantage and with the greatest efficiency. It was maintained that the war effort did not necessitate prejudicing the principle of a 40-hour week.