SHIFT WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1941, Page 2

SHIFT WORK

IN DOMINION FACTORIES ADVOCATED BY MINISTER. BUT NOT ON OVERTIME RATES. <Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, April 17. “Considerable pressure should be brought to bear so that essential industries should be working 24 hours a day, but they cannot be worked on overtime rates,” said Mr H. M. Christie, adviser to the Minister of Agriculture. in an address to the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers’ Union today. Because of the position of industry today, he said, it is essential that factories should be on shifts. It is reasonable that workers on the second and last- shifts should get a little more, but that would not amount to much, as they would be worked in rotation on a roster.

In the wdbllen trade, he said. New Zealand could export goods if the factories were kept working 24 hours a day. “Not only could we meet local needs, but we could help to supply Britain. In the canning industry it is obvious that the works will have to work 24 hours a day and the same will have to apply in disposing of the surplus of inferior meat. This disposal must be carried out before the works commence operations next season.” Mr Christie’s remarks concerning the working of 'factories 24 hours a day were punctuated with applause and other expressions of approval.