HOLD-UP OF WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1941, Page 4

HOLD-UP OF WORK

COOL STORES DISPUTE MEN’S ACTION CONDEMNED. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press ’ Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “It is unthinkable at this time, when so much depends on our getting goods away, that workers should hold up the work,” said the ’ Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, when referring on Saturday to the refusal of the cool store workers on the King’s Wharf, Auckland, to handle produce from the stores on Boxing Day. “Apparently the workers refused to work unless they received trebletime payment instead of 1 double-time,” said Mr Webb. “Objection is raised to the recent Emergency Suspension Order which varies Acts and awards to provide for payment of double time'for work performed on special holidays. The Emergency Order was issued, together with other orders, aft'er full consideration, on the recommendation of the Industrial Emergency Council.

“It should be understood that in normal times special holidays and overtime rates have been fixed as a penalty to restrict work on holidays, also overtime. Today work is necessary on holidays, and with manpower withdrawn from industry for military purposes, workers will of necessity be called on to work increased overtime.

“The Industrial Emergency’ Council visualised this, and, while providing dxtra rates for holidays and overtime, removed the restrictive rates and in lieu thereof provided reasonable rates for holiday work and extended hours.

“This is in line with what has been done in Britain. It is recognised that there are limits to the amount of overtime or extra time that can be worked if the maximum efficiency is to be obtained and safeguards have been provided to prevent excessive hours being worked as far as possible. “It is stated in the Press that the workers at King’s Wharf would have worked if the Emergency Order had applied to thb waterside workers. The waterside workers are working under an order made in pursuance of the Waterfront Control Emergency Regulations, and, because of the special conditions in the order, it was considered that the matter should be dealt with separately.”