FORTY-HOUR WEEK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 160, 18 June 1936, Page 7

FORTY-HOUR WEEK.

Wellington Manufacturer Corrects Mr. Mitchell. NOT SO. DISASTROUS. Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, June 17. Commenting to-day upon the views reported to have been expressed by Mr. A. C. Mitchell, president of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, at the International Labour Conference at Geneva upon the possible effect of the introduction of a 40 hours' week in New Zealand, Mr. A. W. Nisbet, secretary of the Wellington Manufacturers' Association, said it was regrettable that Mr. Mitchell made so sweeping a statement as from all the employers of the Dominion. In fact, said Mr.- Nisbet, New Zealand employers were not at all of the one mind that a disaster such as Mr. Mitchell so gloomily foresaw would descend upon the Dominion. '"v. Mitchell, continued Mr. Nisbet, haj left New Zealand at a stage when the proposals -* the Government had been far from fully discussed and understood by the employers and the public generally, and though a section of the employers did hold the views expressed by him at Geneva Mr. Mitchell would have recognised, had he been able to follow recent discussions, that New Zealand manufacturers had clearly stated both to members of the Government and publicly that they were not opposed to shorter hours and higher wages provided they were given sufficient protection to allow them to operate and employ at least as many men as were at present engaged in industry.