ef Conditions.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19621, 31 January 1936, Page 3

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MR. SEMPLE EXPLAINS. ADOPTION OF 40-HOUR WEEK

(By Telegrapu .—Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Jan. 31

Discussing his new policy for public works, a summary of which lie gave yesterday, the Minister, Mr. R. Semple, said conditions on public works were entirely unsatisfactory from the point of view of both the men and the Department which controls them. A change must and would be made without delay. No great alteration was possible until Parliament met, but the preliminary steps were already in hand. Mr. Semple said he proposed at the earliest possible moment to abolish relief works from the operations of the Department. If the job was worth handling by the Public Works Department it should be handled as a standard job with the most efficient machinery and appliances and a decent rate of pay. The wheelbarrow was only a. stage better than the wooden plough, and had to go. “We cannot see the end of such obsolete methods too soon,” he said.

The Department jvas a solid and efficient organisation ready and anxious to function efficiently and would now be given a chance to provo its worth. He was determined to build up a team of workers who by reason of fair treatment and decent conditions would be proud to take their part in building New ZealandArrangements had been made, said the Minister, for representatives of the Department to confer with representatives of the New Zealand Workers’ Union and prepare for the approval of the Government an agreement which would be satisfactory to both the Department and the men. This agreement would then become the basis of conditions generally on all public works throughout New Zealand.

Mr. Semple said the adoption of a 40-hour week had been fully discussed by Cabinet and his colleagues were entirely in agreement with him that it should be adopted. The new agreement would provide accordingly. He was satisfied it would make for efficiency, it would spread the task and enable more men to be employed and would mean that the men would be in better condition for their work. The 40-hour working week had been discussed all over the world in recent years.

“We have got the opportunity to institute it in New Zealand, and we will insitute it without any more talking about it,” concluded Mr. Semple.