THE FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 60, 3 June 1942, Page 4

THE FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Sir, —In Wednesday's issue of the Beacon the latest bulletin of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce is quotcdi in regard to the 40-hour week. It states: "Now that men are in short supply, the overtime regulations, like the 40-hour week, are no longer appropriate, and in fact both are in direct opposition "-.to- the national interest." * v ,-- In regard to this statementy-ijAssV been stated that the principal firm of engineers (I think it was in Hamilton) had asked to have the working hours of his men, extended, i.e. that the extended hours be On the flat rate without overtime. The l law does not prevent him working ■ extended hours provided he pays the : overtime rate. There were five em-* 1 ployees concerned. If he had been i granted the right to work those five : men on Saturday mornings as de- ! sired by him he would have saved l his firm £1 18s in overtime wages, ■ and those men would have turned ■ out an extra £63 worth of work. In a ■ this case as in many others neither ; the overtime regulations nor the 40- ■ hour week were in direct opposition I to the national interests, and the anxiety of the Canterbury Chamber of - Commerce appears to be more for profit to the emplojier at the expense Jt of the employee than of a benefit to the national interests. Instances have been quoted recently of firms making larger profits than ever in spite of the overtime wages paid. The Minister of Labour ; has set up a committee representative of employers and employees, i which deals with all applications in, regard to the overtime regulations. In some cases the- hours have been . extended, without any overtime rates, , in others the hours on the flat rate have been extended before the overtime rates apply, but in no case has there been a decision arrived at to hamper the present effort to increase necessary production. It is the duty of the Canterbury f Chamber of Commerce as well asi of every individual who has the national interest at heart to bring before thisi committee any matter that is hampering a greater production in this , hour of need. The bulletin further states: "This does not mean that overtime rates should not be paid. They should be paid for hours of work in excess o<f ' what can fairly be regarded as reasonable. But a standard 40-hour week is obviousiy not reasonable in present conditions." I would be glad Mr Editor of your explanation or of someone of.those who condemn the standard 40-hour week of what is a reasonable standard. li' the present standard is effecting the national interests as stated in this bulletin, those making this , statement should substantiate their claim before the appropriate committee for the benefit of the NATIONAL INTEREST.