LONGER WORKING WEEK ADVOCATED TO RAISE OUTPUT

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 April 1947, Page 3

LONGER WORKING WEEK ADVOCATED TO RAISE OUTPUT

Chambers of Commerce in New Zealand had not made any pronouncement on the 40-hour five-day week, but the people should not look upon that policy as a kind of idol before which they should all fall down 1 and worship, for its effect phould now be carefully examined 'to ascertain its cost, and whether or not they were paying more for it than it was worth. This contention was advanced by the president, Mr S. W. Peterson, in his address to the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Comniercc. He said that when they adopted the 40-hour five-day week they decreased production—in some cases by 9 per cent., and in those cases where they continued to work the Saturday mornings they increased costs all down the productive line by 15 per cent, and more.

That meant that the purchasing power of salaries and wages was affected accordingly,'and it also meant a greater cost in the use of the equipment which they built up in this country on a 44-hour, five and a half-day week.

In other respects also the 40-hour five-day week was too easy an excuse for those who did not want to work, and a frustration for those who did wish to work. The policy also curtailed many services to which the public were reasonably entitled.

Time would show how the 40-hour five-day week would affect New Zealand’s competitive position on the world’s markets, but there was no doubt that such a privilege to city dwellers increased the costs of the farming community, who were so predominantly dependent on markets outside this country. Greatest care should be taken to avoid loading the farmers with the cost of privileges which might be enjoyed by the city people, because that would unnecessarily divide the people, as well as endangering the competitive position of primary industry. He believed that it would be good for labour, as well as for the whole country’s economy, if they went back to the 44-hour five and a half-day week,, at least until they had caught up on production. Such a move would undoubtedly increase the purchasing power of salaries and wages.