“ECONOMIC CRISIS”

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 February 1947, Page 6

“ECONOMIC CRISIS”

EFFECT OF THE FIVE-DAY - WEEK TRANSPORT DISRUPTION (P.A.) ’ AUCKLAND, February 6. “An economic crisis” was how the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Trevor M. Davis, described the conditions which have arisen as a result of the almost Do-minion-wide application for the fiveday week, when its application was discussed at a meeting of the council of the chamber this morning. The discussion arose from a report to the meeting by railway officers on the position regarding railway trucks. It was stated that one of the contributing factors in the demand for trucks exceeding the supply was the retention of wagons at stations over the week-ends. The Railways Departmnt worked on Saturdays, but many carriers and others who used the railway trucks did not, with the result that wagons were often idle from Friday to Monday. Several members expressed the view that a five-day week could not be worked at present without breaking down the economy of the country. They considered that a 40-hour week could be worked, but, if necessary, the hours should be spread over six days. Other- members considered that even this would not meet the problem and an increase in the hours of work was necessary. The meeting decided that the position be investigated and an effort made to arrange a conference with other interested organisations.