LONGER HOURS ?

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 6

LONGER HOURS ?

CHANGE IN DOMINION.

j PRODUCTION DURING WAR. GENERAL EXTENSION LIKELY. Early abandonment of the 40-hour week and a. general extension of working hours to increase production are expected in Auckland business circles as a part of the Government's effort to place the Dominion on a war-time footing. It is anticipated that Saturday work in factories and offices and in Government and local body departments will be resumed.

This is regarded a& the only course open to the Dominion to' offset the effects of the impending reductions in the labour supply due to recruiting and to the transfer of men to defence and other emergency activities. Statements made by leaders of the Government are interpreted as meaning that longer hours of work must be introduced if consumption is to be maintained.

It is recalled that France, when faced with an emergency last year, decided to abandon the 40-hour week and to extend hours to speed up production and to place her armament industries on a basis comparable with those of other European Powers. Longer hours were also a part of the general sacrifice which the people of the United Kingdom were called upon to make in the Great War. In the majority of cases where the 40-hour week is in force in New Zealand no work is done on Saturdays. Where the conditions in industry make a 40hour week impracticable, longer hours are worked. Exceptions are also made in various cases under the Shops and Offices Act.