FIVE-DAY WEEK AN ECONOMIC CRISIS

Chronicle (Levin), 7 February 1947, Page 7

FIVE-DAY WEEK AN ECONOMIC CRISIS

-Press Asaiciation

By Telegraph-

AUUK LAND, Feb. (3. "An economie crisis, ' ' was how tht president of the Auckland Chamber ot Commerce, Mr. Trevor M. Davis, de scribed the conditions which havt arisen as the result of the almos! Dominion-wide application of the fiveday week, when its applications weri diseussed at a meeting of the council of the chamber. Diseussion arose from a report to tln meeting by railway otticers on thi position regarding railway trucks. 1: was stated that one of the contributinjj factors in the demand for trucks ex ceeding the supply, was the retention of wagons at stations over week-ends The Railways Department worked Sat urdavs but many carriers aiid othew wlio used railway trucks did not, witl tlie result that wagons were often idlt from Friday to Monday. Sevnral menibers expressed the view that the ttve- day week could not bi worked at present without breaknq. down the economy of the country. The; eonsidered the 40-hour week could In worked but it was necessary to spreat the hours over six davs. Other menibers eonsidered that evei this would not meet the problem an : that an increase in the hours of worh was necessary. The meeting decided that the posi tion be investigated and an effort madr to arrange a conference with other in terested organisations.