44-HOUR WEEK

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 100, 28 April 1921, Page 3

44-HOUR WEEK

INDUSTRIES IN NEW SOUTH [ WAJLES. (raoii oor own coMißcoitßniT.) " SYDNEY, 21st April. From Ist May the working week in a large number of trades will be limited to 44 hours. A recommendation to this effect which was made by Judge Beeby early last week came like a thunderclap 1 ' upon employers, and the Cabinet has. since adopted it, notwithstanding warnings which, in the meantime were uttered, by those best qualified to judge as to the adverse eifect upon output and production. As a matter of fact, the Judge himself freely admitted the probability of such effect, and made abstract and airy suggestions that it might be overcome by improvements in plant and machinery. Employers have forcefully replied that attempts at improvemente in jnethods , are invariably interpreted by the greater body of /workers as "speeding up,"_ and aTe resisted-accordingly. As for improvements in plant, this means increased capital, and anybody cognisant of the financial situation'just now knows ■the difficulties entailed in that—especially those, and they are many, who are being forced to realise stocks at heavy losses, in order to comply -with the imperative demands of the banks to reduce overdrafts. But it is pointed out that the Government is eager at any cost tocurry favour with the workers, careless of whatever increa-sed hardships and unemployment it may eventually bring them by handicapping traders in overI sea-s and inter-State markets.