FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22908, 16 June 1936, Page 9

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

SERIOUS RESULTS PREDICTED

RECENT LEGISLATION ATTACKED

AN EMPLOYER'S VIEWPOINT

(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

LONDON, June 14

The Geneva correspondent of The Times says Mr A. C. Mitchell, a New Zealand employers' delegate to the International Labour Conference, attacked the 40-hour week proposals as threatening serious repercussions in New Zealand, which, owing to the vulnerability of her extensive export trade, was less able than nny other country in the world to introduce the drastic experiment of mandatorily maintaining the rate of pay previously earned in a 44hour week. The passing of such a proposal into law would send "God's own country " at top-speed to the devil —an unenviable experience which he hoped she would be spared.

MR SAVAGE REPLIED

MACHINES DISPLACING MEN

SHORTER WEEK MUST FOLLOW

(Per L.mted Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June IS,

" There are some people who refuse to admit that machines are doing the work of men," said the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) when the cabled report of the comments made at the International Labour ■ Conference in Geneva by Mr A. C. Mitchell on the working of the 40-hour week in New Zealand were referred to him this evening. Mr Mitchell is an employers' representative on the New Zealand delegation to the conference. "Mr Mitchell snys that the 40-hour week will send God's Own Country at top speed to the devil," Mr Savage said. "That is his opinion, but for years now machines have been displacing men from industry, production is increasing, and less human labour is required. The only way to meet the situation is to maintain the average man's standard of living or improve it if possible, and at the same time see to it that he works a shorter working day, a shorter working week, and ultimately a shorter working life. I would like anyone in Geneva or anywhere else to prove that that is wrong. "Some people appear to object to reductions in working hours," Mr Savage said, " because they hold that the working man is not fitted to use the additional leisure which would be provided for him. There are plenty of leisured people to-day who seem to be able to enjoy their leisure to the full, and, at any rate, as working hours are reduced it will be the duty of the Government to provide facilities to ensure that the working man will be able to make profitable use of his increased leisure."