CHEMISTS’ HOURS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21053, 3 June 1938, Page 10

CHEMISTS’ HOURS

Opposition to Change Argument in Arbitration Court By Telegraph —Press Association WELLINGTON, June 2. Opposition to any change in the hours of business of chemists was expressed by witnesses called for the employers during the hearing by the Second Court of Arbitration to-day on application by the Federated Shop Assistants Union for a Dominion Chemists’ Award. It was contended that it was necessary for latitude to be given in this industry for the purpose of supplying the needs of the general public for medicines and surgical appliances. No witnesses were called in support of the case for the workers, a statement being read by the agent, Mr F. D. Cornwell. Mr W. J. Mountjoy, jgent for the employers, called three witnesses. Both counsel agreed to limit their submissions to issues not already heard by the court in similar claims, and the hearing was disposed of in one instead of the two days allocated. Mr Cornwell said the Federation claimed a 40 hour week to be worked between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on four days of the week, between 8.30 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday and between 8.30 a.m. and noon on Saturdays. It was considered that Saturday work should be abolished, but the Federation sought to secure a 40 hour week first and then tackle the question of Saturday work. The wages claimed were £8 a week for managers or worker in charge, £7 a week for qualified assistants and £5/10/- a week for unqualified assistants. Easter Saturday as a holiday was sought, also two weeks’ annual holiday on full pay. The workers asked that the term of the award be one year and the wages prescribed by the court be made retrospective as from six months at least to April 20, 1938, the date of the conciliation proceedings. Mr Cornwell also asked that apprentices be covered by the provisions of the ."ward.

Employers’ Contentions For the employers, Mr Mountjoy objected to managers being included in the award, pointing out that the manager of a chemists shop was usually the occupier and to include him as an employee would be contrary to the intention of the legislation. It was submitted that apprentices should not be covered by the provisions of the award, as special legislation had' been placed on the Statute Book to provide for apprentices in chemists’ shops. Objection was also taken to the Union’s claim for the apprenticing of female shop assistants. The employers contended that the hours of work should be 44 a week to be worked in accordance with the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22. The wages offered by the employers were those in the Otago Retail Chemists’ Assistants Award—£s/12/6 a week for qualified assistants registered under the Pharmacy Act, £5/2/6 a week for qualified assistants not registered under the Pharmacy Act, £4/10/- a week for unqualified assistants, £4/17/6 a week for unqualified assistants with eight years service and 3/- an hour for casuals. The rates of pay for junior workers other than apprentices in chemists’ shops should, it was submitted, be on the same basis as those fixed for junior shop assistants employed by drapers, clothiers, fancy goods dealers, bargain stores and others. The employers objected to Easter Saturday being observed as a holiday, said Mr Mountjoy. To close a chemists’ shops from the Thursday prior <o Good Friday till the following Tuesday would cause serious hardship, pain and perhaps, death to sufferers.