Page 18 Advertisements Column 3

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 18 (Supplement)

No action is likely to be taken by the Federal Cabinet regarding the proposal for a general 40-hour week. Speaking on this subject recently, the Federal Attorney-General (Mr Menzies) said the Commonwealth Constitution did not make this question the responsibility of Parliament. Mr Menzies declined to comment upon an earlier statement of the Commonwealth Public Service Arbitrator (Mr J. C. Westhoven) that the present conditions warranted the adoption of the, 40-hour week in the Federal public service, but that the Initiative in regard to the matter should be taken by Parliament. Cabinet had frequently considered the question of the 40-hour week, and had agreed that it was a matter for the Arbitration Court and the State Parliaments, if they cared to act. T t was felt that the matter could be quickly dealt with by the Arbitration Court as soon as the unions decided to take action. He believed that if the unions cared to press their claims there would be no difficulty in constituting the Full Arbitration Court to deal promptly with the application.