Shorter Hours—More Workers Though the Government took its stand at
Geneva on the proposition that it is not possible to establish a Uniform reduction of hours of work, unrelated to wages, by international convention, the Minister of Labour is anxious to explore to the utmost the possibility of reducing hours and spreading work, if possible without loss of WageS, in particular industries. The experiment which was made last summer by Boot's Pure Drug Company has been examined by Sir Richard Redmayne, and declared to be an unqualified success. In that case, as an alternative ' to turning off hands, Lord Trent decided to introduce a five-day week at the dame rate of pay—and the conclusion is that cost of production on the aggregate has not been enhanced. That is a very important fact deserving the most careful examination by employers. It is admitted that Boot's factories are in an exceptional position—the same firm distributes as well as produces. But the Government are justified in believing that there arc other industries in which a similar effort to spread work without loss to employers or employees might be made ; and it is for that reason that the Minister of Labour recently invited the National Confederation of Employers' Organizations and the General Council of the Trades Union Congress to discuss with him hours and conditions of work in particular industries.
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