THE FORTY-HOUR WEEK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 92, 18 March 1936, Page 10

THE FORTY-HOUR WEEK.

(Contributed by New Zealand Welfare League.) In the discussion on this qustion some advocates appear to ignore the evidence collected by tlie International Labour Office. From this it is apparent that while many trades could introduce, and have introduced tlie 40hour week, there are others which cannot do so unless it is adopted by competitor countries. So far this reform lias had very little support from countries with which we compete for markets.

At the recent convention at Geneva the British countries tried to find out whether the same meaning it attached to a 40-hour week by other nations. The British and New Zealand objective is that the shorter week should not entail a reduction in wages, but other countries appear to give no guarantee that wages will not ho reduced. Unless this is understod the convention is valueless,

To show how difficult it is to make such a reform.universal, it is worth mentioning that of 56 States repre■nnted at the 1917 convention, which affirmed the principle of a 48-hour week, If this is the case for 48 hours, howonly 14 have ratified it after 16 years, much more difficult will it bo for a further reduction? Mr. Armstrong, in bringing in the 40-hour week as a definite policy, has left it open to those industries, which cannot meet competition on the shorter week to apply for .exemption on proving their case.. This is an essential safeguard, The reduction to 40 hours at the same wages is equivalent to about a 9 per cent, increase in wages cost. Can local industries meet the competition of countries remaining on the longer week? That is the main question, for as an assistance towards unemployment it would be of little value.