HOURS OF LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 9

HOURS OF LABOUR

Chamber Of Commerce Comment Resented

WORKSHOPS PROTEST

The following resolutions were adopted by a meeting of the Hutt Railway Workshops employees yesterday: “That this mass meeting of Hutt workshops employees protests against the repeated attacks on the working conditions and hours of labour by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce led by Mr. Nimmo and Mr. McCaul. We consider that the concern of the chamber for the welfare of New Zealand cloaks a selfish desire to exploit the workers by adding to their own profits. The interests represented by the chamber of commerce lost no time in appealing to the Price Fixing Tribunal to increase the cost of commodities, but would deny the workers the same right to apply for a cost-of-living bonus. The suggestion by the chamber to increase working hours is puzzling when we read of the appeal by the Canterbury Farmers’ Union to the Government regarding the uncertainty of disposing of the excess production already in hand. We point out to Mr. Nimmo and his colleagues that a contented customer is essential to sound business, and the worker has the privilege of spending his wages where be pleases. If the Government honours its pledges and conscripts wealth these advocates of longer hours and smaller wages may yet receive a taste of their own medicine.” “That this mass meeting of workers supports the six points of the Otahuliu resolution published in "The Dominion” on Friday, August 23. We do not agree with the Prime Minister’s reported reply wherein it Is claimed that these demands are the irresponsible work of a small section. Similar demands have been made by the Hutt men and it is our opinion that they

are points which any working class or Labour organization can be proud of; furthermore, that they represent the desires of the ‘thousands of voters’ to whom Mr. Fraser refers far more than the appointment of Mr. Coates and Mr. Hamilton to the War Council.”