Official Notice Given Plea For Longer Hours

Chronicle (Levin), 7 October 1949, Page 5

Official Notice Given Plea For Longer Hours

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter. i

Copyright)

Received Friday, 10.55 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 6. The British Government will take "official notice" of a speeeh- )?y Mr. Jack Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Supply, .appealing for a longer working week to beat the economic crisis. Reuter says that quarters close to Cabinet made this cle.ar tonight and addjed that although Mr. Jones spoke without Cabinet authority, there Was no evidence that the speech had caused any embarrassment. Mr. Jones is the first member of the Labour Government to advocate a longer working week, but the Chancellor of the Exehequer, Sir Stafford Cripps, in a speech to bankers two days ago, dropped a hint that the Government was considering such a means. Sir Stafford said that restramt in the matter of personalTncomes for everyone in the country was essential, but he added : "We. want people to earn all they can„on piece rates or incentive rates — the more the better. Our maximum effort must be output, both in production and productivity, removing all rules, regulations or traditions that hamper output in any way." Mr. Jones, during a tour of Yorkshire industries, said today that a five-day week of 40 hours was all right when things were normal, but now a litftle extra effort was needed and this matter required urgent and serious consideration. He appealed to trade union leaders and managements: "I want you to think about this problem and if you can decide to do anything at all, either by increased output in the existing hours or by some extra hours, then please do so." Mr. Jones said that where possible overtime should be worked everywhere by agreement, through • trade union channels.