FIVE DAYS OFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24761, 8 December 1943, Page 2

FIVE DAYS OFF

COMPULSORY HOLIDAY • EMPLOYERS MUST PAY "NEED FOR REST PERIODS" (CT.C.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Approval by the Cabinet of regulations providing for a rest period o five days on pay between Christmas and New Year for workers not entitled to annual holidays on pay under the terms of their employment was announced this evening by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb. He said that the principle of an holiday with nay had now been accepted by employers generally in New Z Tt a was the intention of the Government, at the first suitable opportunity during the coming year, to bring down legislation to provide annual holidays for all workers. Workers Who Qualify "Having regard to the fact that the war is now in its fifth year and that, consequently, the need for reasonabe rest periods will be even greater than in previous years if maximum health and efficiency are to be maintained during what may prove to be the vital year, both in the field and in industry, said Mr. Webb, "the Industrial Rest Period Emergency Regulations 1943, have been approved by Cabinet, 1 hey provide for a rest period, on nay, or five days from Monday, December It, to Friday, December 31, both days inclusive, tor all workers covered bv awards, agreements, or orders issued pursuant to the Emergency Regulations Act, 1939, and who are not entitled to annual holidays on pay under the terms of the employment. Pay During Christmas Period "It is recognised that _ all workers could not, of course, he given the rest period at the same time Where ; workers are required to work between Christmas and New Year they are to. be given an equivalent rest period! within the following six months. "Workers required to work between j Christmas and New Year are to be paid at ordinary rates onlv and while; some awards may provide for observ-1 ing Boxing Day on Monday it is eon- i sidered that in view of _ the fact thati the workers are being given a five-day j rest period all should be placed on the same footing and paid ordinary rates on the Monday if required to work. Three Months' Qualification "The rest period is to be given only to those workers who are employed during the week ending December 25. 1943, and. except in the case of freezing workers, for not loss than tore*' months prior to that date. "Provision is also made for the apportionment of the cost of the rest period where a worker has been employed by more than one employer during such" qualifying period. "The regulations also lay down the basis of calculating the pay for the rest period in the case of pieceworkers and workers whose employment is intermittent by reason of the casual nature of the work. They provide for offences on the part of employers in failing to allow the rest period or terminating the employment of workers in order to avoid their obligations under the regulations. "It is made an offence for a worker not to work between Christmas and New Year when required to do so by his employer for the purposes of urgent work or overhaul or maintenance, etc. Number of Workers Affected "The need for definite holiday breaks," added the Minister, "has been found necessary in Great Britain on account of the prolonged strain, causing industrial fatigufe. At the present time approximately 153.000 workers are entitled to annual holidays with pay. varying from five days to two weeks, and in some cases three weeks, under Arbitration Court awards or industrial agreements. Approximately 72.000 workers covered by awards or agreements do not enjoy the benefit of an annual holiday. "Many employers who are not legally bound to grant annual holidays have already voluntarily decided to observe a paid holiday during Christmas Week. Thus, the number of workers who would not have the benefit of a paid holiday at Christmas time is relatively small. "The majority of these workers are employed in heavy industries and have been working at high pressure during the war period, with staffs depleted by the demands of the armed forces. It would be generally conceded that they have earned a rest." STATE MINES IDLE WATER SUPPLY FAILS LONG STOP-WORK MEETING (0.C.) GREYMOUTH, Tuesday The prolonged spell of dry weather experienced in the Grey district, through its effect on the water supply which feeds the compressor, caused the Dobson State mine to be idle to-day. An alternative water scheme is being arranged, and it is hoped that the mine will be able to resume operations within the next day or two. The Wallsend State mine was also idle to-day due to an unusually long stopwork meeting this morning. The slowness of the emergency winding gear by which the men may be brought out of the mine was discussed, and suggestions were made that the facilities for use in an emergency should be improved. WATER FOR GARDENS POSITION IN WELLINGTON (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday "Gardeners will have to learn to use their hoes instead of their hose —they can get just as good a result that way,'' said Mr. R. L. Macalister at a meeting of the Wellington City Council, when it was decided to prohibit the use of hoses in gardens from a date to be fixed by the city engineer. The engineer, Mr. K. Luke, reported tliat restrictions already imposed, requiring water used through hoses to be metered, had not resulted in any appreciable reduction in the demand, and if there were no improvement it would be necessary to prohibit the use of hoses altogether, Mr. Macalister said that many citizens had not realised how short of water Wellington would be if it were a dry summer. Mr, W. H. Stevens said restrictions on water supplies would cause a lot of heart - burning and disappointment among gardeners, particularly "new chum" gardeners. He agreed that the water situation was bad, and it was going to be worse. Everything possible should be done to hasten provision of a decent supply for the city, lie expressed the hope that the engineer would not impose restrictions unless it was absolutely necessary, and, if it was, he suggested that it might be pointed out to the public that they were still entitled to use buckets and other means" of watering. PRAYERS FOR PEACE DESIRE OF THE POPE (P.A.) . WELLINGTON, Tuesday Advice has been received by Archbishop O'Shea, through the Apostolic Delegate in Sydney, of a pontifical letter in which His Holiness, Pope Pius NIL, brings before the world the need of full observance of the laws of God, and is solicitous, as he has ever been, that the blessing of peace may soon come to a war-wearv world. He takes the occasion of > the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which falls to-mor-row, to call once more for public prayer to be offered that true peace may come to the souls of men. In furtherance of His Holiness' command, Archbishop O'Shea orders that prayers for peace should be offered m all churches next Sunday.