SHORTER HOURS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1946, Page 2

SHORTER HOURS

DECLINE IN DOMINION PRODUCTION EMPLOYERS CONCERNED (P.A.) DUNEDIN, October 17. The question whether economic stability can be maintained under the working condition created by the Government was raised in a report presented at the annual meeting today of the Otago Employers’ Association. “It is to be regretted,” the report stated, “that, contrary to what might reasonably have been expected, the termination of the state of war, extending over a period of more than six years, has been followed by industrial unrest of a nature which probably- has never before peen experienced in the history of the Dominion. In the early days of the war the Government initiated a policy of stabilisation, to which wholehearted support waS given by the

Employers’ Federation and by employers’ organisations in general, and which, had its principles been faithfully adhered to, would have resulted in a much greater measure of economic and industrial equilibrium than exists to-day. “The outstanding feature of the policy of the present Government in respect of industry has been to provide workers with greater opportunities for rest and recreation by shortening hours of work, at the same time ensuring that they will suffer no reduction in wages. Notwithstanding the crying need for greater production, that policy has been progressively promoted, so that to-day no hours beyond 40 a week may. be worked except at penal overtime rates “The position has now been reached where, save at overtime rates, work is done on not more than 240 out of the 365 days of the year, combined with a general decline in individual productivity. Whether or not it will be possible to maintain the economic stability of the. country under such conditions retnaitis to be seen ”