SHORTER HOURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 12

SHORTER HOURS

Sir, —The Minister of Labour, .the Flon. H. T. Armstrong, is calling a conferenee of employers and workers to consider this question. Ho mentions that personally he is in favour of a 40-hour week. When he calls this conference I suggest he invites representatives of the fanners', farm workers and employees in dairy factories. They would represent a class which work's nearly double 40 hours a week, without a day of holiday per week, with rio fortnight's holiday per year on full pay, and for a return—in many cases—that a relief worker would probably refuse to accept. Moreover, in the endeavour to make ends meet farmers are sometimes compelled to commandeer the services of their overworked wives, and weary children. While one class in the community is compelled to such degrading hourss of toil, it is unseemly for town workers to demand any reduction in the number of hours they work, which at present are no hardship. Surely these conditions are a challenge to a Labour Government to devise some means, and enact some legislation, whereby these workers should have their working hours reduced to something approximating to those worked by other workers in New Zealand. In any effort it makes in this direction 1 am confident the Labour Government can rely on the willing support of all parties. 231 Parnell Road. J. Thoknes.