FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 108, 8 May 1936, Page 7

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT LABOUR’S CENSURE MOTION CANBERRA. May 6. The Government was criticised on a ■censure motion in the House of Representatives to-day for its failure to introduce t'he 40-hour week into industry. Mr Curtin, Leader of the Opposition, who moved the motion, said that the Labour Party was not merely intent on reducing unemployment and combating the depression. “We are also hopeful that the 40-hour week will provide the remedy for the evils of mechanisation and rationalisation. ’ ’ The Prime Minister, ;eplying, said that Labour must accept the responsibility and delay for introducing the 40hour week, as it had refused to participate in the proposed conference to consider a shorter working week. How■ever, he preferred to confer with the Loader of the Opposition with the object of exploring the possibilities of a shorter working week, and repeated lus offer to set up a Committee of Inquiry. He feared that the 40-hour week in Australia would not be practicable unless the nations whose products ‘competed with Australia’s adopted similar action. The motion -was defeated, the voting being on party line-<.