HOURS REDUCED

Evening Star, Issue 22443, 14 September 1936, Page 14

HOURS REDUCED

WORK (N MENTAL HOSPITALS [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 12. Tbe hours of work for the employees in the mental hospitals of the Dominion will be reduced, according to a statement made by tho Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals (Mr Fraser) in an interview to-day. The Minister said that, owing to the exigencies of the service, it had been an exceedingly difficult matter to arrange, but fortunately the cordial assistance of the Public Service Association had been forthcoming. Mr F. W. Millar, general secretary of the association, had visited the main mental hospitals and discussed wth the staffs a scheme which had been practically unanimously adopted, and every effort was being made to bring the reduction into operation on October 1. The arrangement would involve a long day and a short day alternately, with every third off and every sixth month off, the result being that the staff would work 412- hours per week spread over the working year. These hours represented the total reduction which could be effected immediately owing to the limited accommodation, and ensured that, as far as the patients were concerned, no inconvenience would be caused, but that in various ways their care would bo improved. A further reduction in hours would necessitate using the accommodation at present necessary for patients—a position .he was anxious to avoid. It was of vital importance that overcrowding of patients in the mental hospitals should be reduced, and until this difficulty had been overcome it would not be possible to provide the extra accommodation which a further reduction in hours would necessitate. Deferring to domestic, artisan, and engineering staffs, the Minister said the hours of work would bo reduced to 40 weekly, as no practical difficulties stood in the way, and this would bring them into line with workers of the Public Works Department and others in similar employment. Concerning the hours of farm workers, the Minister stated that the present hours of duty were approximately 52 weekly, with 14 days’ annual leave, plus the statutory holidays. Tho position in reference to these workers was being investigated with a view to achieving a reduction, and. a definite announcement would bo made as early ns possible.