44-HOUR WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1921, Page 3

44-HOUR WEEK.

INDUSTRIES IN NEW SOUTH WALKS. SYDNEY, April 21. From May Ist the working week in a. large number of trades will fie limited to forty-four hours. A recommendation to this effect which was made by Judge Beeby early last week came lihe a thunderclap upon employers, and the Cabinet has since adopted it, notwithstanding warnings which in the meantime were uttered by those best qualified to judge as to the adverse effects upo output and production. As a matter of fact, the Judge himself freely admitted the probability of such effect, and made abstract and airy suggestions that it might be overcome by improvements in plant and machinery. Employers have forcefully replied that attempts at improvements in methods air invariably Interpreted by the great—body of workers ns “speeding up,” and are resisted accordingly. As for improvements in plant, this means in creased capital, and anybody cognisant of the financial situation just now knows the difficulties entailed in that—especially those, and they are many, who are being forced to realise on stocks at heavy losses in order to comply with the imperative demands of the banks to reduce overdrafts. But it is pointed out that the Government is yagei' at any cost to curry favour with the workers, careless of whatever increased hardships and unemployment it may eventully bring them by handicapping traders, in oversea and interstate markets.