OTHER SATURDAY WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 204, 29 August 1936, Page 10

OTHER SATURDAY WORK

; PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES y MINISTER THREATENS 3 DISMISSAL e [Ter Presa Assodation) d WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. I r Instant dismissal lor men engaged i on public works who have been sup- I plementing their income by taking other work on Saturday mornings, was promised by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, when discussing the matter in an interview tonight. “When the 40-hour week on public works was established,” Mr Semple said, “the men were given the right to work on the job on Saturday morning to make up any time they might have lost during the week. That was purely optional. I have been informed that some men have refused to do that but have been working on Saturdays for other employers and thus 5 competing with men who have no jobs. I want to make it clear that | ■* this will not be tolerated by me. It is a complete violation of the 40-hour . principle and of the agreement signed L in the name of these men. To use , Saturday to compete against men not fortunate enough to have jobs of their own is selfish. When these cases ; come before me—and I have asked [ r for the names of the men —they will [ be instantly dismissed. They will then ; ] have a chance lo work for the other 1 employer not part of the time but j . all the time." The principle of the 40-hour week • had been fought for by the legitimate jp Labour movement for years, added Mr p Semple, and the men on public works were the first in New Zealand to en- e joy that privilege. To use tnat opport unity then to defeat their less for- c lunate fellows who were depending p [ entirely on casual jobs was playing a t , most unfair game. c