40-HOUR WEEK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 145, 20 June 1936, Page 10

40-HOUR WEEK

SHOPS AND OFFICES . RIGHT OF APPLICATION ; ’ ( fcr Press Association. ) WELLINGTON, June IS. What appears to'be a misconception . about the application of the 40-hour - week to workers in shops and offices ? was cleared up to-day by the Minister 1 of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, - who made it clear that ah workers » registered under awards had the right - to applv for a 40-hour week irrespeci tive of legislative stipulations. It was pointed out to Mr. Armstrong 5 that the general interpretation of the t Shops and Offices Amendment Act was . ; at workers under that Act could not 1 secure anything less th<n 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 a new award the demands for a 40-hour week. “When I stipulated a 44-hour week in the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill it was to make sure that there would be some statutory reduction. The working week under the existing legislation for those workers was 44 hours. The Bill made sure that they would secure a reduction of four hours. There . is no appeal beyond that figure. They e cannot be made to work longer hours . by the Court, but they can still apply o for even shorter hours, and if they e make new demands they can now s apply to the Court for a 40-hour week.’’ r I -' WELLINGTON COUNCIL 0 ~— „ i SPECIAL MEETING HELD ( Per Press Association. ) WELLINGTON June 19. At a special meeting of the City Council to-day it "as <i o i 'cd after a two-hour discussion not to make application to the Court for exemption from the provisions of the factories Act regarding the introd n*t’OD of. the 40-hour week. Figures placed before the council indicated that the additional cc-'t for the remaining seven months o p the year will be approximately £47,009.