Fight for Reduction in hours less succesful in 1962 - Figures given in tho Ministry of Labour gazette, January issue, show that the fight for reduction of the number of hours worked per wook had the least success since 1959 ( when the fight for the 42 hour week started in earnest ) the figures are : Percentage decrease in Year. 411 Industry. Manufacturing. in normal weekly hours 1959 0.1 0.2
1960 2e4 3el
1961 1.8 le3
The following induatries recorded no reduction in normal woekly hours of work at all: igriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Mining and Quarrying, Chemicals, Metal Marmfacture, Engineering and Shipbuilding, Leathor, Timber, Furniture, Gas, Electricity, Water and Public Administration, Working Days Lost Nearly Doubled, Number of Strikers Quadrupled.- The number of working days last nearly doubled the 1961 figure — 5,794,000 as against 3,046,000. The main increases were in Engineoring (noarly nine times as many), Shipmilding (up 80,000), Motor Vehicles (320,000 up), Aircraft (} million up), Other Vehicles (100,000 up), Other Metal Goods (200,000 up), Various Transport (over 200,000 up). Some industries were woll down: Mining (427,000 down) Construction (66,000 down) and Agriculture (78,000 down).
The number of workers involved in strikes rose from 779,500 to 4,421,200, But both these figures count certain workers twice. When this correction is made the figure quadrupled to approx. 2,400,000, Numbers employed in Manufacturing down, in Financial and Administration up — I decline in the number of productive workers took place, The number smployed in manufecturing industries fell from 9,008,000 (end Nov. 1961) to 8,882,000 (mid Nov, tom) a decline of 126,000, Chief changes were: Agriculture (17,000 down), Mining (23,000 down), Metal Manufacture (\26, 000 down), Engineering (23,000 down), Shiplmilding end Vehicles (both 17,000 down), Textiles (26,000 down) and Transport and Misc, services were 67,000 up, Other administrative sectors were pp too; National Government Service (4,000 up) and Local Government Service (14,000 up), Changes in the Cost of Living during 1962.— The official index shows an increase of 2, % by llth. Dec. (January 16th. - 100) But closer examination of the figures show that the poorer sections of the commnity will have a bigger increase (especially old age pensioners.) The biggest jump of all was sugar, preserves and confectionery (134) which forms an important item in working class midgets. Butter, Margarine and cooking fats went up 6%, whilst milk, cheese and eggs went up 9%. Coal and coke went up 96 as opposed to other heating which wont up 4%, Housing went un 5%, but motoring and cycling went down ¥% feres showed a rise of Fe