EMPLOYEES WANT INCREASE

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 8

EMPLOYEES WANT INCREASE

WEEKLY HOURS OF WORK STANDARD WAGE RATES ACCEPTABLE (United Press Association)

HAMILTON, September 18. Inviting a ruling by prosecution in the courts if necessary whether willing men should be permitted to work more than 40 hours a week, the Hamilton firm of Bisley and Company has addressed a letter to the Labour Department. The firm’s staff recently telegraphed the Prune Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, conveying a resolution passed at a stopwork meeting stating that men who were engaged in work essential to primary production were willing and urged the Prime Minister to give permission to follow the example of the workers in Britain and work such hours at standard rates of pay as were considered essential “in the interests of freedom and our Empire.” They added: “We urge the Government to bring in regulations permitting this to be done for the duration of the war.”

Mr Fraser acknowledged the patriotic spirit shown, expressed appreciation of the offer and referred the resolution to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb.

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 the 45 hours a week. The men have been informed by a union representative that they may work extra hours only on overtime rates of pay. The firm is asking for a decision whether extra work will be sanctioned at standard rates and expresses willingness to submit to prosecution if necessary to obtain a ruling on the master considered of national importance m the present emergency.