FIVE-DAY WEEK PLAN

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1938, Page 6

FIVE-DAY WEEK PLAN

LONDON FIRMS' TENDENCY VOLUNTARY ADOPTION? COMMENT OF MR. G. E. PAGE Although in the Qity and in other parts of London there is an increasing tendency towards the 6bservance of a five-day week, New Zealand is far ahead of England in regard to the long week-end, according to Mr. G. E. Page, managing director oi a London business flint, who is visiting New Plymouth. The stock exchange and /Some other exchanges already observed a five-day week and had the weekend from Friday night to Monday morning, said Mr. Page. The working hours on Saturdays at London were shorter than they were 30 years ago and there was an increasing tendency to shorten Saturday hours. New Zealund Leads. New Zealand's legislation itt connection with the five-day week for some workers, had, however, no counterpart ih England. In that connection Nfew Zealand was in advance of England in attempting to increase leisure.' Saturday work in London used to end between 3 and 4 p.m. fjor business fitftis, •said Mr. Page. Nowaaays most houses - closed at either midday or 12.3) pun. Banks were open on Saturday momings, oven on Easter Sunday. Offiees and factories working on Saturday did only work that was ahsolutely necessary. The tendency to close pfemises on Saturdays and to observe the fivc-day week was spreadblg, said Mr. Page, and he would not be surprised lf the five-day week came to be volufitarily observed by all business houseS. Particularly favourable impresSions of New Zealand have been formed by both Mr. and Mrs. Page. The scenefy was beautiful throughout the land, they said, after having travelled as far south as Invercargill and as far north as Auckland on both sides of the island since December 16. If the road through the Buller Gorge to Nelson was within two days from London it would be flooded with visitors.-. Until they began their travels they had never realised the length of the two islands. They commented on the progress the Dominion had made in 100 years, on the friendliness rf the people, their love for the homeland, their loyalty to the British Crown and the country's capacity for development.