SHORTER HOURS EVIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17956, 5 December 1921, Page 7

SHORTER HOURS EVIL.

— » REFUSAL IN AUSTRALIA. WARNING BY THE COURT. Australian and N?Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 4. The Commonwealth Arbitration Court ias delivered its decision in connection with an application by a number of unions, hcluding gas employees, the Australian Workers Union, and the Federated Enjinedrivers and Firemen's Association, for ihorter working hours. In announcing the Court's refusal of the applications, the'president said the Court ivould not be justified in adding to the ibnormal unemployment by reducing the standard working hours. A reduction of lours from 48 to 44 in Australia at the present time would be a serious blow to ndustries generally, particularly to the workers. It would be impossible for Australia working 44 hours to compete with England, Canada, and the Continent, inhere wages were less and hours longer, Hid the workers were anxious to accept piecework. If there was ever a time when the Australian .standard hours should, in the interests of the employees and the general public, not be reduced, except in special cases, it was the present. It was pointed out by the president that the judgment did not prevent employers and employees from contracting in regard to the.number of hours to be tvorked and thus prevent an industry from stopping, and did not apply to special