Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1944. INDUSTRIAL CROSSROADS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 June 1944, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1944. INDUSTRIAL CROSSROADS.

r |’HE lessening of the hours of labour is a principle supported by most New Zealanders. Those who have read or been told of the twelve hours or more day. worked by their fathers and grandfathers, with no annual holidays, and with wages on a low scale, tvill be thankful that such industrial ‘‘slavery” has been abolished. Improvements in the working conditions have followed each other quickly, and what to one generation seemed to be a great concession is now regarded almost as oppression, and the demand grows for less Avork and more leisure. Machinery and science helped to make increased leisure possible, without serious national detriment, but whether the wise limit has now been reached is subject lor controversy. National wealth comes mainly from national production, and if production is not maintained, the country cannot afford to Avork less.

[ji,justices of earlier years have been re placed by anomalies to-day. For instance who will defend the action of any miners who accept double or treble pay for working on a, public holiday, and who fail to work the next day. or soon afterwards insist on a day off. when their loss of wages is but the normal rate? The fortyhour week, with Saturdays off, may be good for local body employees, but the effect has been to increase opportunities

for overtime, at higher pay, the cost being met by ratepayers. Similarly with Government departments, and private enterprises, unless production is maintained ni ihe fewer hours of work, the country is running serious financial risks. V ith the war-debt’s burden to be carried, and new markets to be, found and served, it will be interesting to note how the Dominion will meet these responsibilities and yet preserve present leisure standards.

The subject of the five-day week has come into prominence because of the movement in favour of closing shops on Saturdays. The employees are mostly in favour, the employers are divided, and the public appears apathetic, excepting in rural centres. As a. general principle, it must be admitted that if the Saturday oft is beneficial to one class of worker, it must be good for all. There is no reason why shop-assistants, railwaymen, post-office staffs, and even newspapermen should be called upon to work when all others are haviim holiday. The cessation of thenindustry on Saturdays would cause inconvenience to the community, but so does the idleness, at present, of those who are free on Saturdays. Meanwhile, those industries which work on Saturday are finding it more difficult to obtain young employees. That is one reason why many shopkeepers are supporting the closmg-on-Saturdays proposal. Whatever themlti-

mate decision, the public will adjust itse to the new conditions, if any, just as they did to the abolition of the mid-week haLholidav tor shops. The main question, however, is more important than the closin<y of shops on Saturdays. All will hope that the Dominion will be able to maintain present high standards of living and industrial ease, but it would be foolish to io-nore the fact that getting something lot nothing cannot be continued indefinitely.