§ 90. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why employees of the Government of Fiji work a 48-hour week in the Public Works department, 4½ hours in the Government stores, 37½ hours in the Government printing office and 43½ hours in the Post and Telegraph department; and whether he will urge the Government of Fiji to reconsider, in the light of these figures, the request for a 40-hour week put forward by workers in the Public Works Department.
Mr. Creech JonesThe question of a reduction from a 48-hour to a 40-hour week will be discussed with the accredited representatives of the Public Works Department Union as soon as that union has been registered. The matter cannot, however, be regarded as a purely departmental one or of local significance only, in view of the effect such a reduction would have on the sugar industry where a comparable labour force works a 48-hour week and production costs are in competition with those of other sugar producing territories. The hours of the employees in the Government stores correspond with those of commercial stores with slight modifications on Saturdays. Those set for the other departments mentioned by my hon. Friend, in which the employees are mainly civil servants, accord with the minimum requirements of Government and the convenience of the general public.