WORKING HOURS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 29241, 11 October 1940, Page 7

WORKING HOURS

SHORT WEEK OBSERVED COMPARISON WITH FARMERS SACRIFICES ESSENTIAL “I feel it incumbent upon me to point out the extraordinary position in New Zealand, where on the one hand we have men sacrificing good positions and risking their lives for the Empire, without regard to either rates of pay or hours of employment, and on the other hand, a by no means small section of the community expecting to be sheltered by the 40-hour week and high award wages,” said Mr E. M. Edkins in his address to shareholders. “It appears to me to be neither fair nor just to our fighting forces and workers at Home, who are indeed lighting for our freedom just as surely as their own, and working almost day and night under most trying conditions. Often for the workers rest can only be obtained by snatching a few hours’ sleep in some air raid shelter, and death is always at their elbow. “The farmers of this Dominion have been appealed to, as a body,- to produce goods to the maximum, and this they are expected to do against ever-increasing costs and for no greater return than last season. I am sure thi§ call to duty is being responded to in the right spirit as we hear of farmers and their wives, a good many of whom have reached the age of retirement, going back to the sheds and working long hours to enable their sons and eligible young men to take their place in the fighting line. Allow' Workers to Work “We must not forget to pay tribute also to those workers in this country, notably in the munition factories, who offered recently to work longer hours at the same rate of pay for the duration of the war,” he added. “Evidently they wanted to do their bit towards increasing vital production, but I understand the powers that be intervened and they were not permitted to give effect to their excellent intentions. “If anomalies such as I have pointed out are allowed to exist in these times of stress, it does not rebound to the credit of the Dominion. “It would be far better, until the war is over, to allow those workers who are willing - to do so to give up a few hours of leisure, and allow' them to work those extra hours a week at the same rates of pay.

“This would enable them, with the additional wages, to meet increasing expenses, and at the same time produce a greater quantity of goods at no rise in the cost of production, thus helping to stabilise the cost of living. “I am the last one to advocate long hours of work and a low standard of wages,” said Mr Edkins. “These in normal times must be governed largely by the amount and quality of goods produced in competition with the world’s markets. In abnormal times like the present, however, when we are forced by the actions of other nations to adopt a policy contrary to our desires, unless we work hard and make equal sacrifices we may lose the freedom and social benefits we now enjoy. United Effort Required “It is now generally accepted that one of the chief causes of the abject collapse of France was the insistent demand by her people for shorter working hours, knowing full well that her enemies were working to build up a huge war machine to overwhelm her. The grave danger of this policy was exemplified when against the onrush of the invading hordes France was found without adequate reserves of men and materials, mainly the latter. “What chance of survival, therefore, can any nation have, whose people demand Utopian conditions, against another whose workers are willing to slave for long hours for the sake of an idea which may lead them to dominate the earth?” asked Mr Edkins. “One may decry the ethics of that idea, and all it entails, but we as a nation will be overwhelmed by its disciples if we are not prepared to make sacrifices to safeguard our own ideals of freedom for all mankind. “It is safe to add that the regeneration of France will not be brought about by the adoption of the 40-hour week as the cor-ner-stone of her national effort. “We have been warned that the struggle is to be long and hard, but we have little fear of the ultimate outcome if all members of our great Empire put forth the truly united effort of which they are capable. “In conclusion I wish to thank shareholders and clients for the valued support given during the past year, and can assure them that the staff will continue to give that service which in the past has merited patronage and confidence.”