The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-01
A STX-HOUR WORKING
DAY FOR LABOR
And General Co-Partnership Between
British Employers and Working
men Urged By Baron Lever
hulme

London, Sept. Correspondence Of the
Associated Press Adoption of six
hour working day for labor and general
establishment OF partnership between
British employers and workingmen after
the war are urged by Baron Leverhulme,
| formerly Sir w. H. Lever, large EN-
ployer of labor and formerly member
of the central board OF control to deal
with the drink problem.
| Whatever attempt is made at settle
mrnt OF industrial troubles" said Lord
Leyerhulme in statement on labor con.
ditions after the war, Il think the wages
system cannot be abolished it must con-
tions. But it needs improvement and
modification. Wages should be on the
highest possible scale, but no change
ought to impair the supremacy of man.
agement.
"The first thing we must note in any
effort at improvement of working condi-
tions is the tediousness of mechanical
work. The remedy / propose is the
shortening of the days task from eight
to six hours. | think six hours at mo-
notonous work is long enough for any
man or woman. II is a noteworthy fact
that in the history of labor the shorten
ing of hours has meant not decrease
but an increase an production. The sue
cessiye changes from IL hours in the day
to IL and again to 10 so resulted. Even
more marked were the results of the
change from ten to eight. Production
was augmented loss of time from sick
ness and inefficient handling of machin- !
cry was lessened. The loss under the old |
system owing to absence from sickness
alone was rs per cent. | count on sim |
liar advantages from the reduction of /
working hours to six.
How is that saving of hours to be
turned to the workman's advantage? /
With six-hour day he will not be too
weary to take advantage of educational
The state should insist on
two hours daily being spent in sef-im-
The young workman should
have his mind cultivated and his body
exercised. In early manhood these hours
might be partly used for military exer-
Use. Beyond 80 he will find time for
'ome hobby, say gardening And all this
line he will be gaining in efficiency and
character.
so we shall be opening up fresh re-
sources for the good of the nation. The
precious plant of iBgentiveness is not
yrown in a close atmosphere of prolonged ;
abor, it is the product of leisure hours.
when a mans mind is free from task.
work.
"The six-hour arrangement must not,
need hardly say, involve any reduction
n wages. Personally speaking, l want
o see wages go higher, for higher wages
mean more efficiency and more produc-
ion. The more machinery we have the
reater the output.
"Along with shorter hours look to CO.
artnership as a great remedy. Such
ystem brings employer and employed
ito family relations; it gives the work
ian a personal interest in his work.
trict care should be taken that it is not
sed as a device for reducing wages, so
nat any advantages are neutralized
hat would be fraud and a sham. The
cree objection men had to the piece
ork system was their fear of such a de.
ce
There are critics who would substi.
tie higher wages for the benefits of
,rtnership. That is not my idea. In
% "a ~ xVaosne aHTa 20 ~1s@ - ,,ra1,.a ! ,
on; sharing Of profits does not. Be
des. the latter system gives the work
an q personal concern in the firms az
irs II Is also. think snd hope. that ,
2 gulf between capital and labor may
ppily he bridged" .
Trouble Ahead.