Series 150: Weekend staffing arrangements John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd, 1934-1982

MLMSS 9894/Box 204

series

1934-1982

9593633

0.03 metres of textual material (1 volume)

The volume sets out the staff rostered to work on weekends and the duties they were allocated. Initially, on Saturdays the duties were counters, entering, inquiry and replies. On Sundays the duties were counter, entering, classifying and entering, and telephone advertisements.
There were some changes to the duties over the currency of the series, particularly on Sundays. A general assistant was rostered from February 1939, an Office-in-Charge in January 1941, switchboard operators from April 1941, 'cutting down' from October 1941 and 'Tramway and Railway Boxes' from June 1942.
The volume ceased to be used for this purpose after 27 March 1948 although the officer in charge and classifying positions are entered until 22 May 1948.
It appears that this office was staffed on Saturdays from 6am until 1pm and on Sundays from 2pm until 10pm.
There is a typescript roster for Sunday 15 February 1948 loose within the book. This suggests two possibilities (1) that the book was written up from typescript lists or (2) that typescript scripts superseded the series in volume format.
In the front of the book are the notifications of the publication of the Sydney Morning Herald (and in some cases 'Home' and 'Art in Australia' over Christmas and Easter holidays with indication of the business hours during these periods. In the back of the book are pasted further Christmas and Easter business arrangements; a copy of National Security (Man Power) Regulations dated 1 April 1942 and sundry personal notices from the Sydney Morning Herald - mainly concerning the Fairfax family or employees. There is also a copy of advertising rules as published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 17 April 1944.
The book seems to have been used for news clippings for a brief period in 1952 and 1953. These are clippings of interest to the newspaper industry and include samples of classified advertisements. They include a report of a dispute between some newsagents and the metropolitan newspapers; a clipping from The Tribune regarding Fairfax policy re advertisements from 'progressive' booksellers; examples of the first advertisements of Royal Agricultural Show Exhibits and sideshows; samples of the notifications Fairfax Easter business arrangements (including the presence at the Royal Agricultural Show; publication of Herald Circulation Figures; copies of the first advertisements for Florists, Garden and Farm classification; Driving Schools, and Farm Machinery; and the use of 'pointers' or bold first words in short advertisements. There is also a clipping regarding the acquisition of the controlling interest in Associated newspapers by Fairfax interest (28 August 1953) There is also an example of an error in a death notice on 12 March 1952 that was investigated by Fairfax and a statement entered into Public Notices in August 1953.

Copyright status:: In copyright
Research & study copies allowed:
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of Fairfax Media Ltd
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Fairfax Media Ltd.

Original Fairfax Series Number 193