40-HOUR WEEK

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 47, 26 February 1936, Page 5

40-HOUR WEEK

“Will Be No Injustice” EMPLOYERS TO BE CONSIDERED STATEMENT BY MINISTER (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. Addressihg the Builders’ Federation annual meeting this morning the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong said that to remove apprehensions that might exist in all industries, particularly in the building industry, regarding the 40-hour week, he knew that it was impossible for some industries to work a 40-hour week, and it was not easy for others, but there need be no fear that the country would be asked to institute a universal 40-hour week, forthwith. No injustice would be done employers who would be adversely affected by a 40-hour week. It was the purpose of the Labour Government to improve workers’ wages and conditions, but there was no intention of looking at the welfare of one section of the community only, for the community must stand or fall together. In an industry where a 40-hour week would be difficult employers would obtain full consideration by showing sufficient reason to the Arbitration Court.

Dealing with the £7OO limit of the building subsidy, he said there had been many cases of people getting good wages and excellent prospects who had to leave their homes after paying for fifteen or twenty years and live in hovels. No man on wages could afford to build a house of more than £7OO, as the price of the land had to be added, making £lOOO, and that was a wage man’s utmost capacity to pay.