R.S.A. GIVES THOUGHT TO BETTER PRODUCTION

Chronicle (Levin), 23 June 1947, Page 5

R.S.A. GIVES THOUGHT TO BETTER PRODUCTION

-Press Association

By Telegraph

WELLINGTON, June 21. N-eed for incre'ased production to alleviate the serious shortage of food •and elothing in Britain was under dis-' ■cussion at the antiual eonference of the N.'Z.R.S.A. yest'erday, when it was ■deeided to set up a coininittee to oifer1 'assistance to the Government. fn the course of debate Mr. F. L. 'Phillips (Otorohanga) said that last' )-e'ar he was one of a delegation which mported to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) 011 tlie resul'ts of the R.S.A. eonference. The Prime Minister then said that, if it could be shown that the situation ! demanded i't, an increase in the working hours would be made. The s.peaker said it was 110 good going to the Govern-nient without proposais. in a concrete form. He knew from his ■own observafion that shortage of coal' was . responsible for' brick, tile and c-ement works working at -less than eapacity. If such defl'Cieneies -coukl tee remedied by people working longer. hours,. they should be worked. Delegates spoke . for and againsiextension of the 40-hour week. The remit under review at the time was one originaily forwarded by the •Franklin Association, whicli had -been ■rmended in conmiittee to read: "That. this associatian believes that a better iolution of the problem than the .N.Z,RvS.A,*s proposal to reduce rations: in New Zealand wonld be -incre'asedi rprodu'ction efl'ected by -inc-reasiiig the; working hours >by five a week, and by lightening up the existing -ratiening. system, part-icularly as it appli'es i-n i'e-;( speet to hotels and baarding-hbnsfes, the, eonference to deci-de on an appropiiate course -of acti'on. " 5 The committee 's recommendati'on was; leclared defeated on the 'voive's, iind. the origin'al remit With Might modiliea- ? tions adopted as foilows: — "That this Dominion eontfcrl etrong-ly .depi-ecates; the i.wadeqnhcy jatfid -i-n eeflnin eases tlie fu'tibty, "of tbe var.imis' snteusute'S so far adopte'd in ilew Ze^lahd foir' the' purpose: 3.f al-leviating the fs'erious ■shortage of, food and elothing in 'Great Btitain, and, accotdi ngly urgek the fGovfernhvent to give an effe'fcti-ve le'a-d, ' 'dir'ection and; lMvrcfetti'«nt to saJli seeti'ons of tth'e eom-! cnunity tb produce, h'an'dle and ahLp to - Britaia. the greatest p'oasiMe goods in; :h'e •quickost possibJfe mcay; "also, th&t aj spociail ooiromittofe be formed to Offer; issistance to the Goverament.'" . . 3