"THE MEANEST THING"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 136, 25 June 1937, Page 4

"THE MEANEST THING"

-fresa AsBociation.)

Builders' Hours 0VERT1ME AT ORDINARY RATES

(Bv Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. A vigorous protest against a proposal to enable nien to be employed in the preparation of material half an liour before their normal starting time at the ordinary rate of pay, was made by the workers' assessors in the Dominion Builders' and Contractors General Labourers' dispute, the hearing of which was commenced before Mr S. Ritchie, Conciliation Commissioner, to-day. The parties had previously agreed to the following clause: "Except where otherwise speeified, the week's work shall not exceed 40 hours of eight hours a day, to be worked from Monday to Friday inclusive." When the question of the preparation of material arose the commissioner said it seemed that despite the main clause Testricting the hours to 40, labourers might be worked 42£ hours without overtime. "I think it is the meanest thing I ever heard in my lif e, ' ' declared Mi P. M. Butler, the workers' assessors' agent. "I am sure my opinion is shared not only by my colleagues, but by some of those on the other side of the table." The commissioner pointed out that the words: "Except where otherwise speeified," in the main hours' clause made all the difference. Mr Butler proposed that in the case of men engaged in preparing material, their hours should not exceed eight hours a day. , Mr A. Fletcher, of Wellington, the employers' assessor: I am not agreeing to that. Mr Butler: I knew you would not. Further discussion was deferred.