EEDUCTION OF HOURS

Southland Times, Issue 22913, 11 June 1936, Page 4

EEDUCTION OF HOURS

WORKING WEEK ATTITUDE OF CLOTHING EMPLOYERS PAYMENT OF OVERTIME PREFERRED (United Press Association.) Auckland, June 10. An important indication of the attitude of a section of employers toward a 40-hour week was given in a statement made by Mr T. O. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ t ,_ Federation, at a sitting of the Conciliation Council in Auckland. The case was the Dominion clothing trades' dispute, and the claims for a Dominion award put forward by the New Zealand Federated Clothing Trade Employees’ Union included provision for a 40-hour week. “We realize it is the Government’s desire to see a 40-hour week inaugurated in as many industries as possible in New Zealand,” said Mr Bishop. “With that knowledge we are not putting up useless opposition to a reduction of hours, but it must be understood that the introduction of a 40-hour week in this trade will inevitably have the effect of increasing cost in addition to many other increases imposed directly by the amended legislation. It is open to the employers to apply to the Court of Arbitration for an extension of hours to 44. Wj would prefer, however, to arrange a 44-hour week with the union even if that were to mean the payment of overtime rates for four hours a week, but unless we can reach some such understanding as that the employers at this stage are not prepared to accept a 40-hour week without subsequent application for an extension to the Court. ’

The union representatives said they would consider the question in the luncheon adjournment, but on resuming later they announced that they were not prepared to agree to any hours in excess of 40. If they did agree to any extended hours under the conditions laid down, it was stated that it would be an act of disloyalty to the Government and to other unions.

The question of hours was held over.