FIVE-DAY WEEK INTRODUCED

Southland Times, Issue 22999, 19 September 1936, Page 5

FIVE-DAY WEEK INTRODUCED

WORKS COMMITTEE IN WELLINGTON

(United Press Association.)

Wellington, September 18. Ways and means of introducing a five-day week in the Engineer’s Department of the Wellington City Council caused a sharp division of opinion at the meeting of the council. The Mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) warned the Works Committee against going too fast in these matters. It was decided to introduce a five-day week immediately in the City Engineer’s Department. Cr W. Appleton, chairman of the Works Committee, said that the committee was unanimous that there was no reason why the council office should not follow the practice of other businesses and remain closed on Saturday.

The Mayor stressed the fact that Saturday was one of the busiest mornings. He knew of no Government offices which were closing down on Saturday. Cr M. F. Luckie, supporting the Mayor’s remarks, said that the council had decided that a 40-hour week was not a five-day week. Later, the Mayor, after it had been stated that some employees were not working a full 40 hours weekly, said that they would have to investigate whether the daily hours would have to be lengthened to permit the week to be shortened. If the Works Committee could do in five days what used to take five and a-half days, there must have been a lo 1 : of waste of time in the past.