WOMEN WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1786, 26 June 1913, Page 2

WOMEN WORKERS.

WOOLLEN TRADE HOURS. AMENDING LEGISLATION TO BE SOUGHT. By Section 20 of tho Factories Act women workers in tho woollen industry are required to work 48 hours a week, while Section 19 of the saruo Act, governing all other trades, sets a maximum of 45 hours per week for boys and women over tho age of 18 years. The position in which women are placed in the woollen industry has long been realised by tlie New Zealand Woollen Employees' Association, who last year waited upon tho Primo Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) in his capacity of i\l iiiistr-r for Labour. Mr. Massey then stated, pays Mr. K. Kennedy, secretary of the Wcolkn Employee*' Association, that he did not think tliero would bo sufficient members in the llouiio Ito carry a repeal of the section. Tho matter has again been taken up by tho association, and Mr. Kennedy lias circularised all mom)>er3 of Parliament to the following effect:— "I am instructed by tho executive of the abovo association to bring under your notice Section 20 of the Factories Act, which provides, inter alia, that women can bo employed in the woollen industry for -18 hours per week. 1 may point out that this industry is tho only one in tho Dominion that wom?n can be worked for 48 hours weekly, and that this has been imposed on these workers from the very incoption of the Act. All other Workers in the otlur industries throughout tho Dominion have benefited by amendments made and enacted from time to time to this Act; but our women workers have always had to suffer tho imposition that this "special section provides upon tliern, ami we think it is time that wo should havo meted out to us the same treatment and iustice that other similar workers in other industries have received from timo to time by the passing of amendments to this Act; or, in other words, women workers in all other industries in tho Dominion, with this one exception, only, aro required to work 45 hours weekly, while tWis particular section imposes on our women workers a 48 hours week. Therefore, by the repeal of this Section (20) our women workers would bo placed upon tho samo footing as tho othor women workers in all the other industries in tho Dominion. I am, therefore, instructed to ask you whether you. would bo in favour of the repeal of tins particular section. Trusting that jou will favour us with an early reply. There are some 1600 or 1/00 workers ui the industry in New Zealand, and more than half aro women, who are required to work 48 hours. Tho matter affects tlicm to <i great extent. To Mr. Kennedy's letter many replies have been received. Tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher replied stating that he would be pleased to seo the Minister for Labour in reference to tho matter, which would then receive every attention. Mr. T. M. Wilford, replying to Mr. Kennedy, states: "You can count me on your side to help in tho reform suggested in the circular. Aro you correct in stating that tho woollen industry is the only industry in the Dominion where women can be worked for 48 hours weekly? As soon as you make a move in the direction indicated in your circular, please communicate with me."

jlr. G. M. Thomson. (Dunedin) wrote approving of the restriction of hours, olid stated that ho was under the impression that in the Factories Amendment Act, 1910, this had already been done, but ho found that it only applied to laundries. He would support an amendment limiting the hours to -15. Replies promising support wero also received from Mr. Geo. Laurenson, Mr. W. A. Veitch, and Mr. G. Witty. The Hon. J. Allen replied that the matter was in the hands of the Minister for Labour, and Mr. A. S. Malcolm's reply was to tho effect that ho was anxious that every consideration should be shown to workers in factories, especially women, but lie did not feel justified in pledging himself on a matter until ho bad heard it discussed. Witliin the next fortnight, when representatives from all afliliated unions will bB in town, attending tho Unity Congress, a deputation will again wait on Mr. Massey urging that the section be amended in the direction desired.