P-NG and the 5-Days Week

[?]ome Opposition to Current PSA Campaign

D|R. COLIN SEFTON of Koitaki, jfl Papua, who is a member of the Central District Advisory Council, fears that if the Public )ervice Association is successful in current campaign for a five ays week, then eventually this nay mean a five-days week for Jlantation labour.

At May meeting of the Council ie said this could have a very seri ns effect on the Papuan rubber ndustry. Already, on the present 7stem of tapping rubber 280 days year, Papuan rubber planters iere at a great disadvantage com ared with Malaya, Ceylon and idonesia where rubber was tapped 30 days a year. A five-days week )r plantation labour would lop an ther 50 days off the Papuan total.

Ir. Sefton said that the resulting iicrease in production Costs would e very grave for an industry which Iready had little, if any, profit largin. (The request made to the Ad linistrator by the Public Service ssociation is that the present orking-week of 36i hours be orked over a five-day period in «ad of 51. The PSA was informed lat the matter was still under Dnsideration.)

Rabaul Opinion

Rabaul Branch of the PSA in tid-May rejected Moresby’s motion ) exclude non-members from bene ts and privileges obtained by the SA and to have legislation en 3ted which would make it compul )ry for all Administration officers ) join.

It was resolved to ask the Ad linistration to bear the extra load ig on insurance of personal effects gainst damage or loss by earth jake or volcanic disturbances.

A lively debate on the 5-days eek ensued and it was decided to gain circularise members for their Brsonal views.

-Ng Likes 5-Days Easter

The Public Service Association of -NG has protested against the ition of the Legislative Council in (moving Easter Tuesday from the 3&cial list of Public Holidays.

The PSA has requested the Ad linistrator to forward the protest > the Minister for Territories. (At the May session of the P-NG egislative Council, an amendment 7 Mr. B. E. Fairfax-Ross to the ublic Holidays Bill, cut out the uesday following Easter from this jcepted 5-day break. This amend ent was accepted by official mem jrs. See May PIM, page 116.)