SHORTER WORKING HOURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 17

SHORTER WORKING HOURS

Sir, —In all the correspondence concerning 'shorter working hours the important point of the effect on production costs and prices appears to be overlooked. The reduction of the working week from 44 to 40 hours will add at least 12 per cent to the production cost of goods manufactured under the system of reduced hours. This addition, as the increase applies to all the handling from factory to consumer, will cause the latter to pay about 20 per cent more for the article. Then we have the Government's proposal to raise wages and increase profits. There's something in the bag for everyone. But all this has to be paid for by someone, and that someone is the consumer, otherwise every member of the community. This increase in production costs and prices will eat up all the benefits of short hours, high wages, higher profits, and ! it will be a case of "as you were." Then to give the people the promised benefits, wages have to go up again, followed by prices, and the "round the mulberry bush game" is in full swing, and may be carried on ad infinitum without any good to anybody. But the people who are going to be ruined by it are annuitants, pensioners, and others with small fixed incomes. It is J very doubtful if this humanitarian j policy is to be of any real benefit to | the people, or whether in the long run | it may not be detrimental. Doubting Thomas. j