EMPLOYEES TAKING OUTSIDE WORK

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 145, 15 March 1939, Page 11

EMPLOYEES TAKING OUTSIDE WORK

Disapproval Of Board “SHOULD LEAVE CASUAL JOBS TO OTHERS” Opposition to its employees accepting outside work was expressed by members of the Petoue and Lower Hutt Gas Board last night. Tile board recorded a resolution, ou tile motion of Mr. 11. V. Horlor. directing its employees not to accept outside work. The question arose when the board was requested, in a report, for a ruling as to whether employees at the works should accept outside work on Saturday mornings when. Io make tills possible, they bud io lie relieved by other employees. Mr. A. M. Maefarlane said he. disagreed with any motion which would deny board employees the right to make themselves useful to another body. In accepting such work as at (lieHutt Park trotting meeting these men were not denying others jobs because those needed for such engagements were required to be trustworthy and reliable, and it was not every man who measured up to these qualifications. Money received for such work was in effect an honorarium. not wages

Mr. \V. H. Edwards: They are after £ s. (1.

It was a question of principle, said the chairman, Mr. J. Cumming The men had the privilege of a 40-hour week, and good wages, and should not undertake work which other men not so well situated could do. "When a man is in a decent job he should leave these other engagements to someone else.” said* Mr. Cumming. Mr. C. J. Ashton said he was not opposed to a man taking outside work, hut when the board had to pay another time and a half to relieve him, it was too much. If all secured leave to work at the trotting meeting in these circumstances it would be the “dizzy limit.”

The chairman: It is that all right! Mr. Ashton added that none the less it would be going possibly too far to forbid an employee to accept work in his spare time. Mr. Maefarlane: If every worker in all industries were on the 40-hour week and all were forbidden to do outside work, who would undertake these necessary casual engagements? The chairman: That is not our circus. The point is that they arc doing others not privileged with a 40-hour week out of jobs') Mr. Edwards: The greed for gold. It is time all local bodies took the same attitude as we are now proposing.

Mr. Horlor said his motion applied to employees in all branches, not only tn the board’s works.

Mr. Ashton moved an amendment that facilities be not granted to any employee to take outside employment (luring the period of ids working week.

Mr? Maefarlane said that some men could do with all the money they could earn.

Messrs. Maefarlane and Ashton voted for the amendment, which was defeated. The motion was then carried, Mr. Maefarlane dissenting.