SHORTER HOURS

Grey River Argus, 8 May 1936, Page 5

SHORTER HOURS

AUSTRALIA’S NEED. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) CANBERRA Muy 6. The Government was criticised on a censure motion in the- House of Representatives to-day for fa.hue to introduce the forty-hour week into industry. . . Mr Curtin, Leader of the Opposition, who moved the motion. said the Labour Party did not merely intend reducing unemployment and combating the depression. “We arc also hopeful that the forty-hour week will provide a remedy for the evils ot mi'chauisation and rationalisation. 'Die Prime Minister, replying, said that Labour must accept responsibility for the delay in introducing the forty-hour week, as it refused to participate in the proposed conference to consider the shorter working week. However, he was prepared to confer with the. Leader of the Opposition with the object of exploring the possibilities of a shorter working week, and Im repeated the offer to set up a committee of inquiry. He feared that the forty-hour week in Australia was not practicable, unless nations whoso products competed with Australia, adopted similar action. The motion was defeated on Paity lines.