TOPICS OF THE TIMES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4958, 20 February 1937, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

The Five-day Week. “The advantages of the five-day week system generally appear to outweigh the disadvantages both from the standpoint of the employers and of the workers. These advantages, so far as the employers are concerned, relate mainly to (1) reduction of various overhead charges; (2) time for maintenance work during normal hours on Saturday, obviating the necessity for overtime; (3) improvement in time-keeping and reduction of absenteeism. From the workers’ point of view the advantages seem to centre round the long week-end with increased opportunity for recreation and sport and a possible saving on fares when any considerable distance has to be travelled.”—From the annual report of the Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops in the United Kingdom.

Trouble in Japan* “Ever since the Tokio rebellion in March of last year the Japanese army, in return for ‘purging’ its own ranks to please critics among the people and the members of Parliament, has demanded more and more power in government. Its method is to insist on ‘reform’ of the Cabinet, by which is meant the final di vorce °f the Cabinet from Parliament and the creation of a permanent bureaucratic council to govern according to the wishes of the army. Recently there has been increasing oposition to these proposals among the political parties and even among the general public. Last week the ex-Premier Hamaguchi made a striking speech, warning the country against dictatorship, and the parties are said to be getting ready to resist the army’s demands. That there is a genuine feeling against the army is undoubted, but there is something unreal about the actual form of the opposition. For even at present the political parties are quite powerless, and the Cabinet is hardly influenced by Parliament; the politicians therefore are only trying to preserve the shadow of Parliamentary government. For this reason also the army, which already has all the power it needs, will probably be content with compromise.”—Manchester Guardian.