The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-03-11
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
A POSSIBLE SOLUTION

! We are frank to admit that perhaps we Deeo"ie
unduly irked from time to time when some chap
tells the world that he believes that the ohy S'"
ton for the unemployment situation IN thiS couii'
is to limit the hours per week, and thus 1orce -
dustry to absorb something like 6,ooo'ooo iuie
workers. That suggestion alone does not iiiaAe 80
mad, but the man offering his solution Always auu"
that the total weekly wage must be kept a' 'io
same level, although the hours may be reduced d"
much 10 to 20 per cent.
With our economic system geared as it IS, with
wage levels varying in every industry and BUSINESS
we may as well face the fact that the solution 10
our problem does not lie in doing less work Tor the
same pay. However, it is possible that the solution
does lie in workers in industry working for fewer
number of hours each week and being paid for 1t At
the same wage as they did when they worked Ao 10
As hours per week.
Some years ago County Farm Agent Oscar Phll-
lips made the statement that SOME day workers Ill
industries of all kinds would not be putting IN more
than five or six hours day, and that they "ouu
be supplementing their earnings by operating Snai'
farms during the hours which they did not WORK III
the mills plant We have always thought that
perhaps Mr.. Phillips had vision Of drastic eco
nomic change which would sooner or later come TO
pass, and we not certain but that we are last
coming to that place where this solution will be &C
cepted feasible one. Once it is accepted, 1t
will be surprising how quickly it will be universally
adopted.
A man who works in plant only FIVE hours
day for five days week has plenty of time in which
to cultivate farm of few acres. In many OF the
old countries, whole families live off small plot OF
ground and here in this country, particularly in
the south and west, there is plenty of land for
every family to have few acres. A COW, chickens,
a garden, and sufficient land in crops used to feed
the chickens and cow would make famly's gro
Gerry bill small item, whereas it is the biggest
item in family budget, although only two or three
days work week cuts it down mighty thin at the
expenses of happiness and good health
We believe that see trend in this direction.
First there is growing demand for shorter hours,
which can be met only by a reduction in pay. Sec
ond, find many mills getting rid Of their villages,
and many others anxious to dispose of theirs. Third,
in many sections of the south we find thousands Of
young folks driving Is to 25 miles to industrial
plant to work. while the parents, perhaps broth
ers and sisters remain at home to operate the farm
A small, comfortable home, surrounded by few
acres of land, can be built for only few hundred
dollars, and this can be paid for within reason
able length of time. Three four families can
form small farm communities, and one in the group
can furnish car to transport the workers in the
communities back and forth to the industrial plants
With the workers in our mills so situated there
would not be any distress over three OF four day
week. In fact, that would be about all that would
be expected.-Albemarle News and Press.