A THIRTY-HOUR WEEK?

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 21

A THIRTY-HOUR WEEK?

To The Editor

Sir, —When the Labour Party came into power it introduced a 40-hour week. This seems to have become a 30-hour week. As one who has recently travelled through a great part of both islands, I have seen thousands of men on public works and observed their practice. Those living in towns assemble at a given place at 8 a.m., from where they are conveyed by motor to the place where they are supposed to be working. It is 8.30 or later before they make a start. Soon afterwards they stop half an hour for a “smoko.” They are supposed to take only half an hour for dinner, but again observation reveals that they invariably take a full hour. Again, another half hour is taken in the afternoon for another “smoko,” notwithstanding that they are smoking all the time on the job; Then at 4 p.m. they are preparing to leave the job and at 4.15 are seated in the motors and ready for home. Thus it is quite clear that they do not work more than 30 hours a week and for this they now receive 18/4 a day which works out at 3/6 an hour.

Mr Savage and Mr Nash are banking on increased production to finance their social security scheme. Who, I ask, is going to increase the production? Do they suppose that the farmer, his wife and family are going to work 30 hours a week to endeavour to increase production while tens of thousands of ablebodied men are doing the “go slow” for 30 hours? Then they would be welladvised to think again. Assuredly New Zealand is heading for a crash, and in a way it would be a pity if this boom-and-bust party were not in power to see the folly of its wild career.—Yours, PLAIN FACTS. September 5, 1938.