HOURS OF WORK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 249, 18 September 1940, Page 6

HOURS OF WORK

RULING REQUESTED

QUESTION OE WAGE RATES.

Per Press Association. HAMILTON, Sept.. 18.. Inviting a ruling by prosecution .m Courts, if necessary, whether willing men will be permitted to work more than 40 hours a week, the Hamilton firm of Bisley and Coy. has addressed a letter to the Labour Department. The firm’s staff recently telegraphed tho Prime Minister, conveying a resolution passed at a stop-work meeting stating that the men, who are engaged on work essential to primary production, were willing and urged the Prune Minister to give permission to follow the example of workers in Britain and work such hours at standard pay as were considered essential ‘ in the interests of freedom and our Era--1)1 They added : “Wo urge the Government to bring in regulations permitting this to be done for the duration of the ' rf Mr Fraser acknowledged the patriotic spirit shown and expressed appreciation of.the offer, and referred the resolution to the Minister of Labour. The staff of 24 worked 45 hours a week for some time until a shortage of steel for harvesting machinery caused a reversion to 40 hours. Supplies have now come to hand, and the firm proposes to reinstitute tho 45 hours a week schedule. . . , The men have been informed by a union representative that they may work the extra hours only to overtime rates of pay. The firm is asking for a decision whether the extra work will. be sanctioned at standard rates, and expresses willingness to submit to a prosecution, if necessary, to obtain a rulin" on a matter which is considered of national importance in tho present emergency. ' •