SHORTER WORKING LIFE

Evening Star, Issue 22366, 16 June 1936, Page 8

SHORTER WORKING LIFE

INEVITABLE SEQUEL TO MECHANISATION MR SAVAGE DEFENDS FORTY-HOUR WEEK [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 15. “ There are some people who refuse to admit that machines are doing the work of men,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) when the cabled report of the comments made at the International Labour Conference in Geneva by Mr A. C. Mitchell oil the working of the 40-hour week in New Zealand were referred to him this evening. Air Mitchell is an employers’ representative on the New Zealand delegation to the conference. “ Mr Mitchell says that tho 40-hour week will send God’s Own Country at top speed to the devil,” Air Savage said. “ That is his opinion, but for years now machines have been displacing men from industry, production is increasing, and less human labour is required. The only way to meet the situation is to maintain the average man’s standard of living or improve it if possible, and at the same time see to it that he works a shorter working day, a shorter working week, and ultimately a shorter working life. I would like anyone in Geneva or anywhere else to prove that that is wrong. “ Some people appear to object to reductions in working hours,” Air Savage said, “ because they hold that the working man is not fitted to use the additional leisure which would be provided for him. There are plenty of leisured people to-day who seem to he able to enjoy their leisure to the full, and, at any rate, as working hours are reduced it will be the duty of the Government to provide facilities to ensure that the working man will be able to make profitable use of his increased leisure.”