FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22956, 11 August 1936, Page 10

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS THE GOLD MINING INDUSTRY (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 10. The Arbitration Court to-day heard applications by the workers to amend the Martha, Golden Dawn and other gold miners' industrial agreements to provide for a 40-hour working week. Decision was reserved. The application was opposed on behalf of the employers uy Mr R. G. Milligan, of Auckland, local director of the Martha Gold Mining Company, Ltd., Mr H. W. Hopkins, of. Waihi, superintendent of the same company, and Mr W. H. Wynyard, secretary of the Golden Dawn Gold Mining Company, Ltd. Representing the workers were Mr J. Roberts and Mr J. Read, the latter of whom appeared for the South Auckland engine-drivers. Mr Milligan said the Martha mine employed more than 000 men. The average working week was 44 hours. A 40-hour week was not feasible for his company, because of practical obstacles and economic difficulties. It was essential to put through the present tonnage, and there was, moreover, a prospect of an increase in the working cost per ton. , , , Mr Roberts said the workers asked for a 40-hour, five-day week for all workers except those employed in wet, hot or gassy places in the mines, for whom a 30-hour week was asked. The largest mine in Australia had worked a 35-hour week for a number of years and the New Zealand coal miners had enjoyed a 40-hour week for years past. Mining was one of the most unhealthy of occupations. The best means of preventing miner's complaint was by rest periods out of the mine. Dealing with the ability of the companies to bear the added cost of the 40-hour week. Mr Roberts said the Martha Gold Mining Company, in particular, was one of the most prosperous in the world. HOTEL AN RESTAURANT WORKERS

The Federated Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Industrial Association of Workers applied for a reduction of hours from 44 to 40 a week. The application was opposed by the employers, on whose behalf Mr W. J. Mountjoy pointed out that the employers had agreed to reduce hours to 44 from June 15 and pay the 1931 wages. The Government desired hotels of a standard for the tourist trade, and if that were to be clone the industry should not be unduly restricted. Decision was reserved.