TWO LIVE TOPICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24632, 13 June 1941, Page 6

TWO LIVE TOPICS

HOURS OF WORK AND RACING MR WEBB’S CONTRIBUTION (-P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 12. A reply to criticism of the Government for retaining the 40-hour week Was made by the Minister of Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, in the course of the Imprest Supply debate to-night. He also referred to the proposed curtailment of racing in the Dominion. 'Speaking on the hours of work, Mr Webb said it was not his job to tell industry what was wanted —industry should tell him and that was what was being done through the Industrial Efficiency Council. This council had done splendid work, and in no other part of the Empire had the workers agreed to so many variations of awards without overtime as they had done in this country. . The Minister also paid a tribute to the waterside workers/ stating that in getting a quicker turn-round of ships a total of 190 days had been saved in connection with 47 ships. Mr Elworthy’s Lead Referring to the proposal to reduce the number of racing days in the DoMinion, Mr Webb said he did riot wish to express an opinion whether this reduction would be right or wrong, but he would say that it was the duty of the president of the Racing Conference to consult his conference before he made such a recommendation. Personally,. he considered that Mr A. S. Elworthy had been unfair to the conference. He should first have consulted the conference, which was to meet in Wellington shortly, and the conference should then have approached the Minister concerned as to the necessary arrangements. If the conference had thought there were too many. days racing it would not have approached the Minister for extra days for hunt meetings. Mr Webb concluded with an appeal for more co-operation from the Opposition.

Speaking earlier in the debate, Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford) contended that the Government was super-sensitive to criticism. No Government which sought to carry on a partisan ./administration in war-time could escape criticism, he said. He also, expressed his personal opinion that racing should be reduced in New Zealand in war-time. He said that the president, of the New Zealand Racing Conference, Mr Elworthy, had given New Zealand ,a lead, although it was not the job of an individual to give a lead. The Government should 7 do that. . “Petrol' for Horse’'-Floats'-

■; Mr Poison added that when he was coming to Wellington he had seen a number of horse floats on the roads. These vehicles used about a gallon of petrol every six miles, and he understood they, had the right to 300 gallons a month, They were burning petrol needlessly while essential industries went short. The Government had failed internally to make the best of its war effort,:, no matter what it might have done overseas.