INDUSTRIAL MISSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19842, 17 May 1927, Page 7

INDUSTRIAL MISSION

AUSTRALIANS’ VISIT

Tendency to Longer Weekly Hours in America TRADE UNION STATISTICS NUMEROUS INDUSTRIES VISITED. [By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.-—Copyright.] Received May 17, 12.30 a.m. (A. & N.Z.) NEW YORK, May 16. The Australian Industrial Mission’s inquiries in New York ended w'ith ‘t conference with the National Industries Conference Board, which employers and members regard as of the greatest importance, although only one employee member was present.’ Those present were show'll charts regarding hours which refutes statements made before the Arbitration Court that the tendency in America was to reduce hours to 44 weekly. The charts show that the great majority of industries in America arc adopting weekly hours of between 48 and 54. In 1911 the average hours were 54.8, and in 1927 they were 49.1. Only the building and certain clothing trades adopted a 44hour -week. Statistics from trades unions show that the strength of the organisations in the years from 1920 to 1926 were, metals and machinery, 859,000 and 279,000; transportation, 1,250,000 and 1,153,000, and building trades, 868,000 and 1,124,000. The production of wage earners increased from 117.33 in 1914 to 164 in 1825.

The Mission arranged a visit to numerous industries at Worcester afterward sgoing to Boston.

All the members have now decided to return by the Makura leaving on July 13, with the exception of Mr Grayndler, who leaves a fortnight earlier.