SHORTER HOURS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1933, Page 6

SHORTER HOURS

TO INLAND EMPLOYMENT. Discussing the idea of shorter' working hours as a means of reducing unemployment, Lord Trout, at a company ' meeting, said:—“l should like to make another practical suggestion with referuce to retail business' only. More people are engaged in retailing in Britain than in any other' singleoccupation, and, moreover,, there..ispio question of foreign competition where retailing is concerned:) It: isTmpracti•cable to reduce- the hours worked in shops without curtailing the opportunities for shopping .which the public require.

My suggestion, therefore,; A compulsory month’s holiday every wear, with pay, for all employees engaged- in retail tradeA-IfcAYP-ufa-fifiY;®-to he •enacted by law, since it would 'he impossible Tor a . rdtn i ler; to- aet on his own because hisHfxtra ;J posts .would be prohibitive. A? far as one can ‘judge, this shoiddfprqvide the equivalent of a year’s worb for approximately 100,000 additional people in the tail trade throiighout the country. Retail prices might have to be (slightly increased to cover the extra expense, but the public have not been seriously disturbed in recent years by much wider fluctuations than this scheme would involve. Alofeover, in the long run pi-ices would readjust themselves because the existence of more people with money to spend and time- in which to spend it would increase- sales, and therby reduce overheads. Special provision would no doubt have to be made for the smaller retailer, :'but I am confident that if' the Government gave the lead that we have a right to expect of it it would find many progrssivc employers ready and • willing to cooperate in such schemes as this to reduce unemployment and increase purchasing power.”