HOURS OF WORK IN WOOLLEN MILLS

Southland Times, Issue 24211, 22 August 1940, Page 4

HOURS OF WORK IN WOOLLEN MILLS

MINISTER REPLIES TO STATEMENT (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 21. Replying to the statement yesterday by Mr W. H. Barber, president of the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company, who stated that the Hours Committee of the Emergency Council refused an extension of five hours a week to woollen mill workers, the Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) said today that an application was received by him from the secretary of the Woollen Mills Association to work nine hours a day on five days a week at ordinary rates of pay. He understood that the application had not been supported by sufficient evidence to enable the committee to vary its previous decision. However, the association was invited to supply the committee with certain specific information so the matter could be further investigated. This had not been forthcoming up to the present. As a result of the Emergency Council’s activities, said Mr Webb, orders had been Gazetted extending the hours in munition works, timber mills, shearing sheds, tinsmithing and sheet metal works engaged in making equipment, in the dairying industry, clothing factories, tanneries, cement and asbestos roofing works and cheese factories.