SUSPEND 40-HOUR WEEK

Chronicle (Levin), 5 October 1946, Page 4

SUSPEND 40-HOUR WEEK

-Press Assoeiation

till danger of famlne is removed

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, 3ct. 4. A call for tlie suspension of tlie proeisions of tlie 40-htmr week until the , dauger of world famine was removea, "was made by the Dominion conference of Federated Farmers. This decision was reached unanimously on a remit from Otago. The conference also adopted the following remit supported by the Wanganui, Taranaki, West Goast, Waikato ana Auckland Farmers' Union: ' ' That in view of the world shortage of foodstuffs and all consumer gooas, and in view of the large amount of work requiring to be done in New Zealand and extreme shortage of labour to do it, this conference is of opinion that the 40-hour week is wrong in principie. If, however, both G-overnment ana Opposition intend to adhere to the 4Uhour week principie, this conference detnands increased allowances in tne prices of f ann produce as compensatioh so that farmers and farm workers may have their efforts, which include work on Sundays and holidays, measured oy the same tape as is used to measure tne payment of those who render equai -service." Also adopted were the following reftiits and recommendations from the policy committee and branc-hes: — "That as the farming industry (particularly export production) is the basic industry of New Zealand, rewards in other industries should be based on those attainable in the basic industry. ' ' "That the true basis of an economic production is that remuneration shoula be related to production." "That the national policy of New Zealand should be in the direetion oi national energy towan]s the development of land for the greater promotion of the production of food for the starving peoples of the world, to set an example as to waste of food and labo i ■ and to eliminate all obstacles to tne; best use of New Zealand's naturol reeources; that this policy 'an-not be pursued by eontinual appeals for grea er effort from a diminishing number of farmers and farm workers on a shrinking aTea of land, much of which is revdrting to its natural state. " "That this conference is convinced that the negative aetion of rationing diminishing production will not greatly relieve the world food shortage but that a bold drive for increased production is an urgent necessitv and that, as means to this end, restrictions should be removed and niinimum economic prices for food products should l>e assured."