LONGER HOURS OF WORK

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 5

LONGER HOURS OF WORK

INQUIRY MAY BE HELD IN BRITAIN DURHAM MINERS AGREE TO SATURDAY SHIFT (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) 'Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. The ‘’Daily Telegraph” says that, as a result of a suggestion by Mr J. H. Jones. Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, that trade unions should agree to a working week of five days and a half to assist production, the Government may order a special inquiry into the extension of overtime in 80 major British industries. The inquiry will relate particularly to coalmining, cotton textiles, engineering. printing and book-binding, bleaching and dyeing, shiobuilding and repairing, furniture manufacturing. and Post Office engineering. The “Daily Telegraph” says that if the inquiry showed that a five-and-a-half-day week could be worked with advantage in these industries, the unions and the Trades Union Congress would be asked to co-operate in obtaining the workers’ approval for extended hours. As the result of an appeal by their secretary, Mr Sam Watson, who is also this year's president of the Labour Party, the miners in 30 Durham collieries have agreed not only to work on Saturday mornings, but to work an extra half-hour on that day. The other 118 collieries on the Durham field are expected to follow this lead. “The men's decision shows that they realise how serious the country’s position is,” said Mr Watson. “Their willingness to sacrifice privileges for the time being gives a lead not only to the whole coalfield, but to the workers in every major industry.”