SHORTER WORKING LIFE

Evening Star, Issue 22261, 12 February 1936, Page 6

SHORTER WORKING LIFE

MORE EFFECTIVE THAN REDUCED HOURS [Feb United Pbess Association.! WELLINGTON, February 11. ' In an address at a Rotary Club , luncheon Mr T. O. Bishop, secretary ; of the New Zealand Employers’ Fcde- , ration, said that when the rest of the ( world, particularly the more important , industrial countries, was prepared to , adopt measures for reform which would mean increased leisure, New Zealand would be prepared to play its part. . He remarked that he would not like j it to be thought that the attitude of t the employers’ delegates at the last > Geneva conference (at which confer- J ence he was a delegate) was one of active hostility to a reduction of the hours as a general principle. ‘ “It was because the employers’ dele- J fates were greatly concerned at the ‘ ifficulties which would be - imposed > upon them mainly in their export markets by the increased costs at- ( tendant upon a reduction of the hours 1 of work, that they have steadily op- ! posed the adoption of the general con- ■ ventiqn at successive conferences,” said I Mr Bishop. “On the general question of the application of a 40-hour week as a means of reducing unemployment . I personally am convinced that the ’ beneficial effect would be compara- 1 Lively slight, and at best temporary, because > the artificial stimulation of 1 mechanisation would counteract it. 1 The only effective method ot using a I shorter working time to relieve unem- 1 ployment is to shorten the workinc 1 life.”. - b I -- - - I