FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23394, 30 July 1941, Page 4

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

MR COMBS DEFENDS WORKERS (P.R.) . WELLINGTON, July 29. “Workers for the Government’s war effort are deserving of consideration, instead of the abuse of men in comfortable positions, sitting down in Chambers of Commerce and thinking they have the world at their feet, and talking to the world as they like,” Mr H. E. Combs (Government. Wellington Suburbs) said in the Budget debate in the House to-day. Mr Combs said that overhead did not increase when hours were extended. Employers made additional profit out of extra hours, and why they should say that the grasping employees should not make extra was for him to explain. On the facts the case for the 40-hour week stood unassailed, especially as workers had no escape from working extra hours unless their excuse was acceptable. The long spread of hours being worked by the men on five 11-hour days a week' at the Hutt workshops was discussed by Mr Combs. The men had breakfast at 6 a.m., and arrived back at their homes at 9 p.m. They knew farmers worked long hours; but he did not think their spread was 15 hours. The men should be given something for what they lost in a 55hour week. The fatigue factor was of vital importance. The men were unable to have meals other than tea and sandwiches while they were at work. The members of Chambers of Commerce who raved at the men because they would not work 48 hours without being paid for the extra eight hours should study the fatigue problem, so as to see what could be done to give the men a real rest at noon and 5, p.m., and good meals.