Shorter Working Hours

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7210, 17 July 1933, Page 6

Shorter Working Hours

• Discussing the idea of shorter working hours as a means of reducing unemployment, Lord Trent, as a company meeting, said:—“l should like to make another practical suggestion with reference to retail business only. More people are engaged in retailing in Britain than in any other single occupation, and, moreover, there is no question of foreign competition where retailing is concerned. It is impracticable to reduce the hours worked in shops without curtailing the opportunities for shopping which the public require. My suggestion, therefore, is this: A compulsory month's holiday every year, with pay, for all employees engaged in retail trade. It would have to be enacted by law, since it would be impossible for a retailer to act on his own because his extra costs would be prohibitive. As far as one can judge, this should provide the equivalent of a year’s work for approximately 100,000 additional people in the retail trade throughout the country. Detail prices might have to be slightly increased to cover the extra expense, but the public have not been seriously disturbed in recent years by much wider fluctuations than this scheme would involve. Moreover, in the long run prices would readjust themselves because the existence of more people with money to spend and time in which to spnd it would increase sales, and thereby reduce overheads. Special provision would no doubt have to be made for the smaller retailer, but I am confident that if the Government gave the lead that we have a right to expect of it would find many progressive employers ready and willing to co-operate in such schemes as this to reduce unemployment and increase purchasing power.”