40-HOUR WEEK

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 256, 26 July 1935, Page 12

40-HOUR WEEK

New Zealand Labour at Geneva

WORKERS’ ADVOCACY If the employers could not be persuaded voluntarily to adopt t he 40-hour week as an experiment iu industry generally then the Governments of the various countries should take the initiative by passing appropriate legislation. This was Hie plea, made at the nineteenth session of the International Labour Conference tit Geneva recently by Mr F. J•>. Cornwell, the New Zealand Labour delegate, in a. speech on June 12, when the conference discussed Hie question of the reduction of the hours of work in industry. The text of ills address as published in the “Irovisional Record” by Hie International Labour Office, lias just been received by Hie Trades and Labour Council, Wellington, of which Air. Cornwell is secretary. Mr. Cornwell said lie desired to add ]iis protest: to those of oilier workers’ delegates against the attitude of the employers in refusing to take part, in discussions on the short working week, ’The industrial world was watching with interest tlie work of the conference in the hope that it. would give a lend in the direction of a reduction iu the hours of work. Tlie employers’ altitude would be received by tlie world with disgust. But it; was well to remember Hint the decision of the employers’ delegates attending tlie conference did not represent the opinion of employers generally. He felt sure that in every country there existed a large volume of opinion among employers in favour of a reduction of tlie hours of work. Referring particularly to working hours in New Zealand, .Mr. Cornwell pointed out that for many years the 44-hour week had been the rule iu most industries. To-day there existed a. desire in many employers in the Dominion for the 40-hour week.

Looking to Great Britain.

The speaker outlined tlie Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Act ami the machinery for Hie settlement of labour disputes in New Zealand. "At meetings of conciliation councils the employers tell, us that they realise that a shorter working week has gel: to eouic,” Air. Cornwell continued. “But they refuse to be the first employers in their particular industry to grant the 40-hoiir week. When this question lias come before the Court, of Arbitration and tlie. judge had heard our arguments lie told us on the last two occasions that it was a matter for Hie Legislature. We then approached Hie Prime Minister and tlie Alinister of Labour. who informed us that they were looking io the oilier side of the world to see what, was happening there. 'They look to see what Great: Britain will do and wliat will come out of this conference.”

Mr. Cornwell remarked that, he had been greatly interested to hear the British Government representative, and was pleased that he had tried io get the employers' representatives to take part in the debate, if only to discuss the question in relation io certain industries. But. lie wondered whether, if the eoiiferenee did adopt the 40-honr week, (he British Government would ratify it. The Labour movement in New Zealand was of opinion that the British Government, had done more 1o stultify the work of the International Labour organisation than anyone else. If the British Government would ratify a convention adopted by the conference it would set tin example to the Do-, minions, which were looking to Great Britain for a lead. The reasons advanced by tlie employers for not: taking part iu the discussion of :t Itl-lioiir week were exactly Hie same as those brought forward on previous occasions when the workers had asked for assistance. The employees had been told that the increase in costs could not bo borne, that industry would l>e ruined, and so on. As a matter of fact, the employers as a class had never been so well off as they wore ar the present time, so their arguments about ruination were not borne out.

The speaker then addressed his argument to the human factor, and appealed to the employers’ dclogaies to let flesh and blood take at least, an equal place wiih money in so important a social quest ion. Governments .should Move. 'Tlie Governments would surely have realised that, if the employers as a class would not: co-operate with tlie Governments in industrial legislation it: was tilin' that the Goveriinieiits themselves inaugurated sneli legislation for Hie benefit of the Workers. 'The only alternnlive was that, a number of countries would probably have Io fall back on tlie kind of govcrninent. Hint, existed in the Soviet Union. 'That, might: not be a help to many of the employers represented at Geneva.

Among the various phases of industry mentioned at. the conference, Mr. Cornwell proceeded, was public works. 'The public works carried on in most countries were government activities, and at the present time these were ma inly'for unemployment relief. Surely there was no class of work to which a reduction of hours was more applicable. Here was a golden opportunity flip Ha' Governmeuts of all countries Io reduct' working hours to 10 a tveek by starting with their own employees. After dealing with argninents put forward by the oilier side of the table eoncernliig individual mainifaetures, Mr. Cornwell concluded by saying that it. was aiqiarenlly useless asking the employers to co-operate. He therefore would appeal to the several government delegates to co-operate with the workers’ representatives and to draw upa convention on a 40-hour week basis for submission to the Governments for their adoption, with a roeommendation that they should give effect to the convention.