WORKING HOURS IN INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22834, 19 March 1936, Page 7

WORKING HOURS IN INDUSTRY

TO TIIK KIHTOK SIR, —I'erliupti, some of youi leaders will enlighten mo on tlio matter. Employers are circularising their employees who artworking (and always have worked in Hie past years) 48 hours per week—that is, for six full days—asking whether they now prefer (a) a weekly half-holiday or (b) 14 days' annual leave in lieu of haltholiday—on full pay, of course. The employees naturally would like 14 days' leave, and also the Imlf-loliday, which means 2G days' leave, and would give them time to attend to their gardens or to be spent in any other way they might wish. In view of the 40-hour week proposal, which would be most suitable for thenwork, the employees think the 14 days' leave would be best, but can the employerg use that as an exemption from the 40-hour week by saying that their employees were circularised and that they prefer 14 days' annual leave in lieu of a reduced number of hours per week? Perhaps a wiser head will give hie-, views on the matter. For myself. I think the preference should be for the half-holiday, which would bring the hours down to 44.

Another view, too. is this: Why bother asking the men what they prefer? They should automatically have the 40-hour week and annual leave too. I think these employees should have had different working hours long bfore this. —I am. etc., March 16. 40-Hocß Week.