FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1940, Page 9

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

. MATTER FOR WAR CABINET. CHARGE BY WAIRARAPA FARMER. At a meeting of representatives cf the farming and dairy industry held in Masterton yesterday the 40 hour week came under brief discussion when the secretary of the Wairarapa branch of the New Zealand Farmers Union, Mr R. H. Williams stated that a plough which was urgently needed had been sent in to a foundry to be repaired. As the work was behind time the engineers were approached to finish the job on a Saturday morning and the local inspector of the Labour Department, communicated with. The ruling was given by the official that the usual overtime rates of pay would have to be paid and the union secretary notified in the usual course of events. “In view of the Minister of Labour's statement that where the 40 hour week was interfering with the country’s war effort it would be set aside I call it lipservice to the country in the light of these developments,” stated Mr L. T. Daniell. "The work was urgently required for increased production. In spite of the Ministerial broadcast the Production Council is supposed to ‘crook the knee’ before a union secretary.” “When we want anything from the farming community we go to the secretary of your union,” observed Mr J. Robertson, M.P. "The same applies io other unions.” Mr Daniell contended that the matter of the 10-hotir week should be looked into and on his motion, seconded by Mr Robertson, it was decided to refer the matter to the War Cabinet.