EMPLOYERS' PROTEST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19892, 21 March 1939, Page 14

EMPLOYERS' PROTEST

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

WAGE RATE RETENTION

PRINTING DISPUTE

(Pur Press Association.) , WELLINGTON, this day. In the counter proposals presented on behalf of the employers at the Conciliation Council discussion of the New Zealand printing trade award yesterday, the clauses referring to hours were left open for discussion by the Conciliation Council in view of the expressed desire of the Government relating to the expansion of production in local industries, the discussion to apply also to the hours requirements in industries of manufactured stationery and tin printing. The union sought a 40-hour week for day workers and a 35-hour week for night workers. Mr. E. W. Clarkson said the employers were convinced that the operation of economic conditions that had become manifest during ' recent months would result in some modification of the wage rates at present ruling, but as they recognised that for the present it was Both the policy Of the Government and the practice of the Arbitration Court to maintain the present wiige levels and hours of work, they proposed to agree to the renewal of the wages provisions of the 1938 awards, but to record a protest against both the 40-hour week and the present scale of wages. The undertaking given by the workers', representatives that as a result of the 40-hour week, the industry would not suffer any diminution in production had proved neither serviceable nor effective.

After appealing for the co-opera-tion of the workers' representatives in determining the hours of work in several branches of the industry and the methods by which the hours so determined should be utilised to the best advantage to enable the industry to provide the extra services required under the import control regulations, Mr. Clarkson added: "The employers are sincere in their, opinion that this additional call upon industry can be met only by the adoption of some increase in the hours of work; at. least in those establishments upon which a demand for increased production will be made.

"They are of the opinion that it is both more desirable and practicable to secure an increased output from the present installations rather than that industry should be forced to make heavy demands on the sterling funds* through the laying down of further plant and equipment to operate which, it is doubtful, if there will be available the necessary number of skilled workers. It is not only apparent but also frankly admitted by the federation of workers that during the past two years, there has been available to industry no surplus of journeymen."