“THE LUCKY MAN”

Southland Times, Issue 23152, 19 March 1937, Page 4

“THE LUCKY MAN”

SATURDAYS FREE UNION AGENT’S COMMENT A plea for consideration for the worker who was forced to work on Saturday mornings to supply the needs of those who were privileged to -be “Saturday free” was made by Mr J. Robinson, workers’ agent, of Wellington, during the hearing of the grocers’ assistants’ dispute in the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr Robinson was asking for increased pay for the assistant who worked on Saturday morning, and pointed out how more favourably situated was the man who was free all day Saturday. It was submitted that the worker who ceased work on Friday afternoon and remained a free man until Monday morning was much more favourably situated than was the worker who had to turn out on Saturday morning and work until midday, he said. The former could leave for the week-end the district in which he was employed; he could enjoy his leisure in whatever manner seemed good to him; and he would return to his duties, on Monday morning refreshed and invigorated after his change of air, scene and environment. The latter, however, could not indulge in such recreation. Time did not permit of that. He was required to be at the beck and call of an exacting public. The reduction in his hours from 48 to 44 a week was of little value to him. He had to crowd 48 hours’ work into 44 hours’ time. The four hours’ reduction was scarcely noticed in a week’s working time. His Saturday was a broken day, and his work on that day was made much heavier by reason of the lack of consideration shown by persons who had themselves been released from work on Saturdays. Unfortunately, far too many of them used their Saturday leisure in which to do their shopping. They occupied their leisure in forcing other people to work.