The Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1944. SHORTER HOURS FOR RETAIL SHOP HANDS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13436, 26 April 1944, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1944. SHORTER HOURS FOR RETAIL SHOP HANDS

There is an agitation in Wellington, on the part ot shop assistants, to have their working hours reduced to 40 per week in line with those engaged in factories and it is said that the shop proprietors agree with this. Looking at the position in its broadest light one cannot help but admit that the shop assistants are justified in their claims, for why should they work 44 hours a week when others are required to work only 40 hours per week ’ But there is another side to the picture, and that is the economic side. Shops exist for the benefit of the people, and therefore the shops should, be open at such times as to enable all to do their shopping with some comfort. At present the shops are open on Saturday morning and so far as the larger centres are concerned this is a great convenience to many, especially in this war period. There are quite a number of married women engaged on war work and it is only on Saturday morning that these women are able to do their shopping. If they are denied this convenience then many of them would have to absent themselves from war work in order to do their shopping. From the economic point of view the closing of the shops on Saturday morning must necessarily have serious effects. Although the needs of the people may be just as great as ever, the fact that they cannot find time to do their shopping must cause a reduction in the turnover of the shops. This would not matter to the proprietors provided the wages of the assistants were reduced, and they were paid only for the time they were at work, but this is not the view of the assistants, who want the same wage for working fewer hours. There is an ethical side to work, for shop assistants, like factory hands and farmers, are working for the people, ana it is the duty of everyone to serve the people faithfully and 1o gA e of their best. In this connection we should say that the farmers provide a shining example. On every day of every week thev work long hours, not only to provide the nation with its foodstuffs, but also to maintain its economic life. This country depends upon its exports for the national income. About 95 per cent of the exports are primary exports and to achieve this the farmers have to work on the average 70 hours per week. Viewing the matter in this light we think it would be grossly unfair of the authorities to induce the returning servicemen to settle on the land and become farmers. Even with all the financial assistance the Government proposes to give them, those who go on the land would have to work 70 hours per week and longer, and call upon their wives and children to labour also, while if thev entered

industrial life they would have to work no more than 40 hours per week at wages? they would not really earn. They would get o2 Saturday holidays in the year, plus Christmas Day. Boxing Day. New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easier Monday, Anzae Dav and Labour Day. On a farm they would have to work every day in the year, with little chance of a holiday. There is a new eia approaching and we wonder whether these new economics will survive.