AUSTRALIAN LABOUR
40-HOUR WEEK WANTED CENSURE MOTION LOST CANBERRA, May 7 The Federal Government was criticised on a censure motion in the House of Representatives yesterday for its failure to introduce a 40-hour week into industry. Mr. J. Curtin, Leader of the Opposition, who moved the motion, said the Labour Party was not merely intent upon reducing unemployment and combating depression, but also was hopeful that a 40-hour week would provide a remedy for the evils of mechanisation and rationalisation. The Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, in replying, said Labour must accept the responsibility for any delay in introducing a 40-hour week as it had refused to participate in a proposed conference to consider a shorter working week. However, he was prepared to confer with the Leader of the Opposition with the object of exploring the possibilities of a shorter working week.
Mr. Lyons repeated his offer to Bet up a committee of inquiry. He said he feared a 40-hour week in Australia would not be practicable unless the nations whose products competed witb Australia's took similar action.
The motion was defeated on party lines.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22413, 8 May 1936, Page 11
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186AUSTRALIAN LABOUR New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22413, 8 May 1936, Page 11
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