NO HOLIDAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1943, Page 2

NO HOLIDAY

ON ANNIVERSARY DAY WAR CABINET DECISION. JOINT MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The cancellation of the observance this year of Anniversary Day as a holiday in all the provinces throughout the Dominion was a War Cabinet decision announced yesterday in a joint statement issued by the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr Sullivan, and the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb. In the Wellington Province Anniversary Day falls on January 22, and in the Auckland Province on January 29. In other provinces it occurs later in the year. “Anniversary Day is not observed as a holiday in accordance with statute law, though it has been the custom for many industries and business premises to observe a holiday on that day,” says the statement. “Some awards of the Court of Arbitration make provision for a holiday on Anniversary Day, while do not, and where no provision is made in awards or agreements work has in most cases been carried out in the past on Anniversary Day. In some awards, where Anniversary Day is not described as a holiday, some other day is substituted. “It is therefore considered that where the award or agreement makes provision for any special payment or other condition if work is performed on the holiday such special payment or other condition should be granted subject to the Overtime and Holidays Labour Legislation Suspension Order, 1941, which in certain industries removes the trebletime payment for work on holidays. “It is noted in a recent award of the Court of Arbitration that shop assistants employed under’ the Retail Shop Assistants’ Award are entitled to special holiday pay. Many retailers may, in view of the present situation, consider it unnecessary to open their shops on Anniversary Day. It is difficult, however, to make a distinction, and it has therefore been decided to cancel the holiday and put l all business premises and workers employed on the same .footing. The necessary Emergency Order will be issued immediately.”

POSITION IN MASTERTON CLOSING OF RETAILERS’ SHOPS. EXTRA PAYMENT TO WORKERS. Some uncertainty exists in Masterton. in view of the above statement, as to whether Mastertoil shops will be closed on Anniversary Day or not. The Masterton Retailers’ Association had decided, prior to the above announcement, to close their premises on Friday and Saturday of next week, and it is likely, if extra payment has to be made to their employees if they work on Anniversary Day, that the association will adhere to its decision. The official ruling, according to the Labour Department, is that in cases where awards stipulated extra payment for work on Anniversary Day, payment would have to be made, subject to the provisions of the Overtime and Holidays Labour Legislation Suspension Order, 1941, which watered down the extra payment and in certain instances reduced treble time to double time. The Masterton Retailers’ Association is investigating the position, and will make an announcement as soon as possible.