44 HOUR WEEK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20465, 9 July 1936, Page 8

44 HOUR WEEK

TEMUKA POTTERY FACTORY COURT’S JUDGMENT By Telegraph Pre»sWELLINGTON. July 8. Holding that a case had been made out justifying its refusal to reduce the working week below 44 hours, the Arbitration Court decided to-day to permit New Zealand Insulators Limited to work a 44-hour week in their pottery factory at Temuka. Consequently the Court will make an order on September 1 extending the hours to 44 and permitting Saturday work. The judgment of the Court stated that the factory which manufactures electrical insulators, cut-outs, boiling - jugs and mixing bowls, casseroles, teapots and glazed tiles, was the only one manufacturing this type of ware in New Zealand. The Company had experimented for 12 years and incurred losses during that time, but the business was now well established. However, it had to meet keen competition from overseas and any substantial increas'’ in costs would imperil its existence. By statute the hours of work were reduced from 48 to 44 a week, and the Court was of the opinion that it was justified in refusing to reduce them below that amount. The technical process of burning the product in kilns requires that during its last 12 hours a skilled man mus f be in constant attendance. The judgment states: We propose to make an order that two men may oe employed each on one day of the week for n period l2 hours (excluding meal times) An order granting a 44hour week, Saturday work and a 12 hour period f or two employees will oe current for one year.

Biscuit and Confectionery Workers By a judgment delivered by the Arbitration Court the award governing the working hours o’f scu’t and confectionery workers is to be amended on September 1 to provide for a 40-hour week. When the case was heard the employers agreed to a 40-hour week, and except in the case of conche room operatives to exclude Saturday from the working w oo k. It was shown that the conche department contained machines in which chocolate had to be heated and mixed from 16 to 96 hours according to the type being manufactured, and that care had to be taken during that period. In addition tn amending the award the court ordered that except for conche room operatives including the shift engineer and fireman, no part of the working week should fall on Saturday The hourlj’ wages rates are to be adjusted so that the ordinary weekly rate is not reduced.