FIVE-DAY WEEK FOR SHOPS AND OFFICES

Northern Advocate, 11 December 1936, Page 11

FIVE-DAY WEEK FOR SHOPS AND OFFICES

MR ARMSTRONG EXPECTING MOVEMENT

[(Special to "Northern Advocate”! AUCKLAND, Thursday.

Although there has been no national movement for the introduction of a universal five-day week for shops and offices, the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, said this morning that he would not be surprised if such a proposal were made in the. .near future. He thought the application would come from employers, as well as workers. The Minister said that already there had been joint applications from certain sections of trade; and no doubt a five-day week would be a subject for future legislation. “The best way is to get the interested parties to agree," he continued. “Legislation to compel people to bring about a five-day week should be the last resort.” The Minister said that one of the difficulties of the shorter week was the conflict of interests between the large shop proprietors and the small men. especially those in the suburbs. What might suit the employer with a large staff might be distasteful to the small shopkeeper, who worked entirely by himself or with his family. Mr Armstrong said there was a possibility of an amendment to the Shops and Offices . Act next session, and, while not indicating in what direction the legislation would be, he said it depended to some extent on how ffi&ttets developed Wiih interested parties.