WHAT IS A WORKER?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23631, 15 October 1938, Page 9

WHAT IS A WORKER?

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Who are the workers whose voices are heard so loudly in the land to-day, clamouring for still shorter hours and higher pay? Are they the doctors or ministers of religion, whose time is expected to be at the call of the public at all hours; or lawyers, whose nights, as well as days, are occupied with the affairs of their clients; or merchants, company managers, school teachers, music teachers, or members of other professions, not excluding editors of newspapers? One wonders, too, if mothers of large families, and if nurses may be included among the workers. A lot is heard nowadays about the working man, but who is he, and how much does he do in the way of real work? The alleged working man of the present day spends 40 regulated hours per week in taking sufficient exercise (which he calls work) to keep him strong enough to draw his pay on the day fixed by Act for the performance of this pleasant operation. By the way, that same pay exceeds, on the average, the net Incomes of many professional men. Without allowing any deduction for illness, but taking off Sundays, Saturdays, and 21 compulsory holidays, and other odd days, at least 18 weeks are eliminated from the year of 52 weeks, leaving 34 weeks of 168 hours each. After using 40 of these hours in the manner described, there remain 128 hours in each of the 34 working weeks for eating, sleeping, and playing, not an unreasonable amount of time for these recuperative purposes, the thinking man will say, although he has the other 18 free weeks also available for rest and refreshments. Will you please tell me, Sir, if this rest-seeking toiler be the worker. —I am. etc., J. M.