REDUCING WORKING HOURS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14771, 10 October 1921, Page 4

REDUCING WORKING HOURS

A cablegram on Saturday slated the Australian Labour Council has appealed to the affiliated unions to abstain from future participation in the eight-hour celebrations, but to make May i a universal Labour Day. Thus ttic eighthour day has fallen from its pedestal as a public holiday. Established to mark the institution of the eight-hour day, it used to be celebrated by Labour with great enthusiasm; but, having gained the 44-hour week, why should the workers go to any pains to celebrate any longer the establishment of the 48-hour week, especially as in some industries they arc looking forward to a still further reduction of working hours, with, of course, no corresponding reduction in pay. There are ominous indications in New South Wales and Victoria, particularly in the former Stale, that this process of cutting down the working hours, and thereby lessening the output, is reaching the danger point, and in some cases has already passed it. At a recent meeting of the Sydney Chamber of Manufacturers to consider the effect of the 44-hour week upon industry, statements were made which showed that the very existence of many industries is threatened thereby, promising export trade had in many cases been ruined, and as a result the ranks of the unemployed were being largely reinforced. Mr Hoskins, of the Lithgow iron works who, as a very large employer, is one of the chief sufferers from the 44-hour week award, said that before and during the war his company made large quantities of iron pipes, orders being received from N'cw Zealand, Tasmania, and other places. Recently, however, though the firm had tendered at prices which did not represent half the increase caused by the awards, it had been impossible to obtain contracts. If all the firms were brought under the operation of the award it would cost an additional £60,000 a year, and that could not be paid. As it was, some 450 men had already been put off, and in the near future it might be necessary to dismiss a further 500 or 600. Another speaker, connected with (he spinning industry, mentioned that in consequence of the operation of the 44-hour week award, manufacturers would have to consider the question of abandoning the spinning industry and importing the yarns from Germany, Japan, or elsewhere. His own firm had contracts for wool tops which would last another eight or ten weeks, and after that it would have to close down, thus throwing another 500 men out of work. It was estimated, by a man of long experience, that the annual added cos/- to the industries of the Slate arising I rum the reduction of the working week would amount to not less than £10,000,000. Faced with the competition from overseas—in the United States the working week in the steel industry extends from 48 to 84 hours according to the nature of the work—and from States where the 48hour week is the rule, the New South Wales industries are placed in a most perilous position. Fortunately there are signs that some of the workers themselves are beginning to realise that the present is a singularly bad lime in which to decrease production, one hopeful indication being that the Shearers’ Union lias decided not to insist on the order for its observance in the shearing sheds. A large majority of the unemployed in Lilligow are slated to be quite willing to work 48 hours a week in preference to having no work, and consequently no wages at all. The flaw in the principle of the shorter week is in the fact that though a Judge may reduce workers’ hours of labour and thereby increase-the cost of their products, he cannot ensure a market for these products. The whole trend of recent awards in New South Wales seems to be In kill (lie industries by which thousands of workers have been making a living. It. is. as a contemporary remarks, for the, workers to decide, how long they can enjoy the fruits of such a Pyrric victory over the

capitalist employer, whom it is the ambition of the Australian ‘Labour Council to overthrow.