HOURS MAY BE EXTENDED

Southland Times, Issue 24598, 21 November 1941, Page 4

HOURS MAY BE EXTENDED

INDUSTRIAL PLANS FOR DOMINION BEST USE OF AVAILABLE LABOUR (P.A.) TAUPO, November 20. An extension of the hours in industry, the closing down and tapering off of less essential industries, the wider use of women, including married women, the redistribution of labour, the zoning and pooling of plant, the reallocation of orders, and the prevention of an outflow of labour essential to industry are the main points of a scheme under consideration in New Zealand, according to the Director of National Service, Mr J. S. Hunter, who delivered an address at the annual conference cf the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation at Wairakei this morning. While Mr Hunter emphasized that the statements he made did not represent Government policy, merely his views on the man-power situation, the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, later stated that he thought Mr Hunter had interpreted Government policy 100 pel- cent. “There must be more skilful use of the available labour,” said Mr Hunter. “Methods have been widely examined and discussions have already been held. We must have a reshuffle of man power in the country in the future. The problem is to get a progressive diversion of labour from industries that can spare it to industries that require it. The Government does not intend to impose restrictions until they are absolutely necessary, but we must create immediately some form of machinery to implement the plan suggested. EXTENSION OF HOURS

“An extension of hours opens a field for the widest controversy,” said Mr Hunter. “It would be idle to introduce war regulations unless everyone was satisfied that equality of service was taking place. It will mean a further measure of sacrifice on the part of the workers, who must be satisfied employers are not reaping the benefit. Already a lot of spade work has been done. I can see no alternative to closing down and tapering off less essential industries. There is no suggestion that the whole community will be placed oh soldiers’ rates of pay, but what is visualized is that the unlimited rights of the workers to transfer from industry for higher wages may have to be curtailed as a war measure. This is not new, as it is being done in England. There is power under the war regulations in New Zealand to direct any person where he is to work, but ordinary conditions of wages would apply. It is realized that a certain amount of restriction on both employer and employee would be entailed. I . am optimistic enough to think we will be able to do the job with the minimum interference consistent with the importance of the task. Action must also be taken to ensure that labour flows where it is most necessary. While a postponement of retirements must be considered, there is no suggestion that the present procedure of appeal boards will be interfered with or the workers expected to work under anything except normal conditions.” NO TIME FOR FOOLING “This is no time for the workers to shirk by absenteeism or anything else or for employers to ride the high horse, said Mr V/ebb, in supplementing Mr Hunter’s remarks. “If a trade union stands in the way of our utmost war effort or an employer will not use his factory, they will have to be put aside. A board should take over a factory for the duration of the war as is being done in England. This is no time to fool about. I would not hesitate to bring in legislation extending hours, but it is not necessary, as. power is given under the war regulations.. If an industry wants to extend hours it can make representations to the Industrial Emergency Council. It is no use giowling. You have the machinery there; make use of it. You will get more production on a 40-hour week than a 48. Try it and see. If any of your industries are seriously affected by the 40-hour week, put in your request. The Minister added that it was the idea of the Government to eliminate new awards while protecting the workers’ interests. It was useless to fix prices, then raise wages.