EMERGENCY COUNCIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1940, Page 2

EMERGENCY COUNCIL

REGULATION OF INDUSTRY. RELAXATION OF AWARDS DISCUSSED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Industrial Emergency Council set up under the Emergency Regulations Act. 1939, met at Parliament Buildings yesterday. The council, which comprises representatives of all phases of industry, including farming and shipping, both on the employers’ and workers’ sides, has met frequently since the start of the war. and has dealt 'with many important industrial problems arising out of the war. The decisions reached and advice tendered are stated to have been of great assistance to the Government, and in view of the more serious situation, the help of the council in connection with the urgent problems now confronting the Government in its war efforts is expected to be of considerable value. The meeting yesterday was presided over in the initial stages by the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb. Later the Minister was called to an urgent meeting of Cabinet and, during his absence. Mr A. McLagan was chairman. Among the matters considered were: (1) Applications from employers for relaxation of apprenticeship proportion owing to war efforts. <2) The question of re-establishment of workers in industry on return from war service. (3) Ratification of rationing agreement entered into between a company and its workers. (4) The relaxation of statutory provisions regarding overtime in factories engaged in the production'of war materials. The matter of relaxing other conditions in the statutes or awards which restrict or impede production for war purposes was discussed and rexerred to a sub-committee, which met later in the day. . Later in the meeting the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, and the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, addressed the council, and gave an outline of the Government’s action and intentions to further the war efforts. The members present at the meeting were reported to have shown a spirit of helpful cooperation, and a wish to put aside all sectional considerations. All were imbued with the desire to give the Government all possible advice and assistance in doing the big job on hand.