40-HOUR WEEK IN N.Z.

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28284, 23 May 1957, Page 21

40-HOUR WEEK IN N.Z.

Farmer Proposes Staggered Hours (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 22. Staggering of the 40-hour week could save millions of pounds in labour and distribution costs, said the Auckland provincial president of Federated Farmers (Mr J. Scott-Davidson) at the annual conference today. Emphasising the need to cut national costs, he suggested an end to “the monopoly transport system,” which, he claimed, would bring a substantial saving in direct and hidden charges. The transfer to private enterprise of some Government capital projects might be more efficient. “There is too great a gap between the price paid to the producer and the price to the consumer,” he said. “But the farmer takes the blame for high food prices, unfairly, but most conveniently.” Although farmers had been receiving lower prices for many of their products, the consumer was not paying less for his food. Similarly, some drops in farm income contrasted strangely with increases in income in other sectors.

Mr Scott-Davidson questioned how long the present high standard of living could be maintained in New Zealand. Sagging export prices with mounting labour costs and short working hours pointed a warning finger, he said. “I believe the real answer to inflation is real hard work and effort,” he said. “Only by that means can we increase the value of the £ and get back to realities, and we may have to do that sooner than a great many of our younger generation realise.”