THE 40-HOUR WEEK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24633, 14 June 1941, Page 15

THE 40-HOUR WEEK

TO THE eWTOh Sir,—The Acting Prime Minister recently said that not more than 5 per cent, of the people realised what was at stgke in this war. The continuation ol strikes, stop-work meetings, frequent public holidays, unrestricted racing, football and gambling seem sufficient evidence to support this statement. Yet the Government is itself -partly to blame for its weakness in tolerating these "acts of sabotage against the nation’s war effort. Defenders of the 40-hour week, writing in recent issues, would seem to come within the 95 per rent, class whose eyes are not yet opened. The only case they can put up is that the 40-hour week is part of the Government’s, pre-war policy, and that those asking for its temporary abolition. notably chambers of commerce

and the Farmers’ Union, are animated bv selfish motives. That such ,an allegation should even be made betrays a deplorable ignorance of war finance and taxation. Manufacturers have no selfish incentive to increase their profits. rather the opposite. Income tax, national security tax, excess profits tax, and compulsory loans would swallow any exti a return brought about through longer working hours. It may interest these .trade union scribes to learn that farmers and farm hands have never known a 40-hour week in their' industry, nor are they likely, to for the duration of the war and some years to come. Owing to the shortage of man-power in the country, farmers will have a difficult enough time in carrying on their 60 to 70-hour week, even if no further increase in production is called for. It becomes more apparent as times goes on that no party Government can be trusted to lead this country in a full war effort. Only a true coalition of all parties can do the job. More than the 5 per cent, of Mr Nash’s reckoning already realise this and are calling for action. Let no selfish aims and class interest bar the .way, nor extremists, either Socialist or Tory, hinder the nation’s work for British victory.—l am, etc.. Countryman. Middlemarch. June 12.