Manawatu Evening Standard SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1926. IN STRIKING CONTRAST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 176, 26 June 1926, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1926. IN STRIKING CONTRAST.

The 44-hour week in New South Wales is being attended with grave losses both to the employers and the workers. It was first enacted in 1920 by the Labour Government then in office, but its effect upon the State industries was so bad that the Nationalist Ministry, which succeeded Mr Dooley’s Government, reverted to the 48-hour week. In his pre-election addresses Mr Lang, the present Labour Premier of the Mother State of the Commonwealth, pledged himself to restore the 44-hour week, entirely ignoring the fact that the Federal Arbitration awards made provision for a 48-liour working week. Trouble began, when, following- the passing of the 44-hour Bill, the workers under Federal awards sought to secure the advantages of the Act by working only 44 hours, and expecting to receive 48 hours pay. Hundreds of men who refused to put in the 48 hours found themselves out of work in consequence. One of the arguments used in support of the 44-hour week was that it would result in increased employment, as more workers would be required to maintain the output on the 48-liour week level, although, inconsistently enough, it was also argued that the workman would get through the same amount of work in “44 hours that he had previously accomplished in 48.” There was another unlooked for happening in oennection with the initiation of the 44-hour week, however. Certain unions had already obtained the 44-liour week for their members and, presuming on the advantage they thus held, they began agitating for a 40-hour week for themselves, acting possibly on the principle that, being already in possession pf an advantage other workers had not enjoyed, they were entitled to still maintain their privileged position in working four hours per week less than those who were only newly entering upon Ytlie 44-liour week, which they would seem to have considered, was their peculiar preserve. .Prior to the introduction of the shorter working hours in 1920, there were fewer unemployed in New South Wales than subsequently. In 1919 the official records only showed 7170 unemployed. In 1920 there were 10,049. That number more than doubled in 1921, when it was officially stated there were 20,626 persons out of employment. In 1922 there was a drop to 19,496, and in .1923 to

14,551. Immediately tlie 44-hour week became operative (that was in 1920) unemployment jumped rapidly upwards, but, as the figures we quote show, immediately the old hours of working were reverted to, unemployment almost as rapidly decreased.