* * * * A Forty-Hour Week
The Italian Government', proposal for a working week of 40 hours instead of 48 has received more favourable comment at Geneva than might have been expected. Mr. Heyday, representing British Labour, possibly sur- prised himself by his ardent advocacy of Signor Mussolini's idea. The British Government's objections were ton largely based on the supposed necessity of reducing wages if the week were shortened. The originator of the pro- posal would doubtless reply that, if production were everywhere curtailed, prices would rise and the existing wage-rates would soon be no more than sufficient. The period of transition would present difficulties until wages and prices had been brought into harmony. But if the world depression were thus ended, the relief would be cheaply bought. The proposal deserves much fuller discussion, and the Franco-German-Italian resolution calling for that ought to be carried.
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