HOURS OF WORK

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20738, 23 February 1939, Page 8

HOURS OF WORK

BUILDERS URGE INCREASE HOUSING CONTRACTS DELAYED EXTENSION OF AWARD SOUGHT The question of the working hours in the building trade and its relation to -the number of carpenters available were discussed at the annual conference of the New Zealand Federated Builders and Contractors’ Association in Hamilton to-day when a remit bearing on the matter was received from the Canterlmry Association. The Do- | minion president. Mr W. A. Petri# ; Timaru' presided. The remit, which was Introduced by Mr C. S. Lunev 'Canterbury) was as follows: “That we urge the Introduction of a 4 4-hour week, spread over five days, at the same hourly rate, as the shortage of skilled labour is delaying the progress of the Government housing contracts and the defence programme.” A similar remit from Manawafu, to the effect that th# conference give consideration to tfas means of obtaining some elasticity from the hours of work as contained in the Dominion Carpenters and Joiners’ Award, was discussed In conjunction with the Canterbury suggestion. ‘‘This is a very modest request, ** said Mr Lunev. “The 40-hour week was originally designed to spread th® amount of work available so that unemployed carpenters could be absorbed. However, the position is not so acute to-day. and the actions of the men have been such as to Indicate that they do not actually want additional leisure. Social Security Job “In tbe cities the only builders who can get employees are those who offer overtime and consequently higher wages. The Government has seen fit to waive some of the tenms of the award so far as the social security building Is concerned. The Government housing contracts and the defence work are equally urgent, and many of us oould handle a good deal more work If more carpenters were available.”

Mr A. FI etch or (WelTtugton) explained that any waiving of the award as far as the social security Job was concerned was undertaken as a matter of national emergency.

Endorsing Mr Luney's remarks. MY Johns (Canterbury) said one of the main troubles enoountered by the builders was in keeping their employees when they were offered longer hours of work. If the employers were allowed some elasticity in the award the speaker was sure there would not be any conflict with the men. There might be some opposition from the union but that would not necessarily constitute a complaint from the men. Described as Parasites **ln these matters ft Is not the men who give us opposition,” said Mr Petrie. ‘‘Year after year we have had to fight the union secretaries. In fn&t on one occasion we were told by the union secretaries that we were nothing hut parasites, and that we did not pay the wages. We are not likely to get as much satisfaction by dealing with the union secretaries as we would by dealing with the Government.”

The following resolution, proposed by Mr V. A. Coyle (Auckland) was carried: ‘‘That the conference compliments the Government on Its endeavours to overcome the serious shortage of building trade operatives in New Zealand at present: and in view of the amount of building work that appears to be contained In the Government's future building policy, apart from the private work in view, the Government be asked to amend the 4 936 legislation so as to extend the hours of work of workers in the build* ing industry to 44 hours a weet, spread over five days. We also aubmtt that the progress of industries and the Dominion should not be held up by suoh a shortage of skilled labour as exists In this industry.” It was decided that the resolution be sent to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Labour. It was also decided that the Manawatu remit should be withdrawn in view of tho action taken with the Canterbury remit.