PLANS TO ABSORD MORE WORKERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 17

PLANS TO ABSORD MORE WORKERS

FIVE DAY WEEK DISCUSSED BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF WORK British Official Wireless (Received November 16, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, November 15. The possibility of absorbing more persons in industry by the better distribution of employment, is engaging the active attention of the Government. The Minister of Labour (Sir Henry Betterton) stated to-day that he had arranged for immediate conversations between representative organisations and work people, regarding the general question of hours of labour. The Minister said the practicability of a sevenhour day or a five-day week in industry would no doubt be brought under review. The matter had been recently the subject of an appeal by Mr Baldwin to the employers to consider the question of a reduction in overtime and further reference to the question had been made in the debate in the House of Commons on the proposals for dealing with the depressed areas, when the Minister of Labour said that Invitations to the discussions had been sent to the National Confederation of employers organisation and the Trade Unions Congress, and he hoped to have an opportunity of discussing with each individual industry, the part it could play. He regarded it as the national duty of employers, wherever possible, to assist the Government in the task of dealing with the unemployed.