SHOPS & OFFICES.

Wairarapa Age, 19 June 1936, Page 4

SHOPS & OFFICES.

> APPLICATION- OF FORTY-HOUR WEEK.

EXPLANATION BY MINISTER. WELLINGTON, June 18. What appears to be a misconception about the application of the forty hour week to workers in shops and oflices was cleared up to-day by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, who made it clear that all workers registered under awards had the right to apply for a forty hour week, irrespective of legislative stipulations. It was pointed out to Mr. Armstrong that the general interpretation of the Shops and Offices Amendment Act was that workers under that Act could not secure anything less than a 44 hour week. Mr. Armstrong said that this was a misconception. Workers registered under any award covered by industrial conciliation and arbitration legislation were entitled to apply, when making a new awjrd ( for a 40 hour week. When he stipulated a 44 hour week in the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, it was to make sure that there would be some statutory reduction of the working week. The Bill made sure that they would, secure a reduction of four hours. There was no ' appeal beyond that figure. They could not be made to work longer hours by the Court but they could still apply for even shorter hours and if they made new demands they could now apply to the Court for a forty hour week.—(P.A.)