AGITATION FOR 44-HOUR WEEK IN AUSTRALIA

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 9

AGITATION FOR 44-HOUR WEEK IN AUSTRALIA

By Telegraph.—Pres* Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z- Cable Association. (Received April 30. 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 30. Mr Garden, acting on behalf of the unions covered by Federal awards, has telegraphed to Mr Bruce requesting him to convene a compulsory conference to consider the 44-hours’ question. He has also telegraphed to the Labour Councils of the Commonwealth asking their co-operation. Mr My hill, secretary of the Metal Trades Employers’ Association, states that representatives of the men employed in the Pioneer Spring Company have notified the management that the men are prepared to work *IS hours a week. Subsequently, Mr Bryant, of the Australian Society of Engineers, of which the majority of the men are members, informed the management, that the. men would not be allowed to work more than 44 hours, but they could work from Monday to Saturday inclu-

sive. as the union was not bound to observe a five-day week. Mr My hill declared that his association believed that, the men, if they had their own way, would obey the law. They were being led, however, by a few extremists.

MR BRUCE SAYS UNIONS HAVE LEGAL REMEDY. (Received April 30, 11.15 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April 30. Replying to Mr Garden's request Mr Bruce states that he has no power to call a conference on the. question of the forty-four hours week. He points out that the unions have legal remedies.