FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 108, 8 May 1936, Page 6

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

EFFECT ON COUNTIES OPINIONS IN RANGITIKET j ‘'UNWORKABLE,-' SAYS CB. ALE* STUART (Own Correspondent.) MARTON, May 7. “ A great body of our ratepayers helped to put the Government into of- ' lice and they must how take their medicine,” said Cr. A. rituart (ex-M.P. for ■ Rangitikei) ac th© Rangitikei County ■ Council meeting today, when corre- > spondence was read rela-ting to the effect of certain Labour legislation j upon County Councils. 1 “We know that this is detrimental i to lhe council and to the ratepayers; . we know that lhe 40-huiir week is uu-vvu-rkable,” added Cr. {Stuart. I'hi- matter arose when a letter from the Counties’ Association was read pointing out that it was by ‘ the Government to repeal Section 115 ‘ of the Industrial Conciliation and Ar bitratio-n Act, .1925, which provides in effect, that an award shall not apply to county councils. An expression of opinion was sought. To this the engineer (Mr. S. A. R. Mair; replied:— “In this county complete hanmony exists and always has existed between the council and its employees. The varied duties and conditions u. work appertaining to county employe:- extending over a wide area make ; t next to impossible to lay down any hard and fast working conditions, schedule of duties, etc. lhe great majority of employees are working under a roving commission, with only general supeivi sion by the county foreman. There is little <,r no check on the hours worked, multiplicity uf work undertaken, amount (,f travelling, etc. ilen are often called upon to spasmodically do rough tradesmen’s work, use explosive:, drive water tunnels underground Go concrete work, drive a lorry or gader, tally metal, supervise casual assistants, keep lime and a multifarious schedule c,-f duties changing from moment to moment. Often, in time of stress from floods, etc., any casual labour such as swaggers, farmers’ employees, faxmers themselves and their sons have to be drawn upon urgently to protect and a--sist the travelling public. No Court could lay d:.wn an award to meet the exigencies of backblock counties, and watertight conditions applied to such .vork would destroy lhe splendid feeling iic.'W obtaining between th«. countv and its outside employees, who arc treated well and have never evinced any desire to be brought under an award. To force an award upon county employees would be a huge blunder. If counties did not treat their employees fairly and properly, the men would leave for other work where better conditions obtained and no county can afford to lose its trained men. As an instance, many of our men have been in our service over 30 years. Many other cogent reasons could be giver, but the above wili show that as far < - this county is concerned, an award applied to our employees would, in my opinion, net be to tne advantage of the men, the ratena ers or the public at large.” Copies of Air. Mair’s statement were also forwarded to M issts. J. G. Cobbe. C. L. Hunter and O. Wilson. M’s.P., and their attitudes we r e defined iu replies read. Mr. O. Wl son’s Reply “I would like to point out,” haiff Mr. Ormond Wilson., M.P. for Rangtikei, “that an award is only granted if either employees or employers apply to the Court for it. If, therefore, there is no desire c-n the part of either body to have the wages altered there is uo need to come under the operations of I hi* Court. Should an application be made by the employees it is alwavs open to the employers to- prove to lhe Court it' it is not possible for the ID-hour week lo apply. I hope that lhe. (. ounties’ Association and the County Council will realise that it is only proper that they should be made ■'Ubji'ri ip ihc operations of lhe Act, together with all other employers of laoour in the Du-minion. In anv case if the cundit'ons of the employees aio as favourable as arc suggested then the County Council has nothing to lose by the operations of the award.” Hon. .1. G. Cc-bbe, M.P., replied; “If lhe unions are pressing for the repeal I am afraid the Government will force it through. However, 1 will do what 1 can to prevent it.” Mr. C. L. Hunter. M.P., stated: “If it is as you say that your coun'ty is paying top wages and your men arc enjoying good conditions .1 would advise that your council has nothing t<» fear in the repeal of Section .115 of the Act.” Their Minds are Made up These statements prompted a brief discussion by the council, during which Mr. Stuart made the observations previously quoted. “Our pretests can do little good.’’•he added. “Their minds are made up and that is all there is to it. ” Cr. A. S. Coleman: It is unworkable but we needn’t waste time trying to tell them. Cr. R. G. DalzieH: It is a policy matter and it is no use trying to stop it. It. v\as eventually decided to endorse the view as expressed by Mr. Mair.