MILK DELIVERY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 119, 22 May 1942, Page 6

MILK DELIVERY

SAVING MANPOWER

METHODS DISCUSSED

Arguments for and against front gate and daylight delivery of milk with a view to saving manpower were placed before the Auckland Metropolitan - Milk Council at a special meeting this morning. The meeting was open to representatives of various interested organisations and large milk companies, vendors, associations and the other trade unions concerned.

The chairman, Mr. I. J. Goldstine said the council would not discuss the matter to-day. It was desirous of hearing the views of the various parties concerned. The question of an increased gallonage as a means of saving manpower had been discussed with the Labour Department and the chairman was informed that the Minister of Labour would have no objection to an increased gallonage provided the roundsmen agreed and the increase did not involve an increase in the hours of work.

Mrs. F. V. Senn, representing the New Zealand Women's Food Value League, said the effect of daylight delivery would be dangerous from a health point of view on account of Auckland's sub-tropical climate Front gate delivery would save f- l , he s P eaker could not see that daylight saving would. The opinion of the Housewives' Association, voiced by Miss E pn kington, was that front gate delivery was neither necessary nor advan tageous. Unless there was a decided increase in the amount of milk delivered by each man. there would hp no saving in manpower. There did not seem to be any point in daylight delivery unless women were to tak« over the whole round.

Union Viewpoint

Mr. J. Purtell, secretarv of thp Auckland Milk Roundsmen's Union said the union was in favour of front gate delivery and was prepared to increase the gallonage up to 10 gal lons. So far as daylight delivery was concerned, the union considered that this would not effect a saving in manpower, and for that reason it was not considered that any good purpose would be served by insti. tuting it.

The view that daylight deliverywould be impracticable was expressed by Mr. H. J. McKeown, president of the Pasteurising Plant Employees' Union. He thought that the council had been weak-kneed in regard to front gate delivery, and cited the policy of the Postal Department. That Department, he said, wrote to householders asking them to provide a receptacle at the front gate for letters.

Mr. R- B. Stonex, of Stonex Bros Limited, said a man would not liver as much in a day as in the early hours of the morning. He did not think women would be satisfactory unless there was a bottle delivery. The solution he suggested was to extend delivery by an hour each day, institute front gate delivery and employ women to do collecting in daylight hours.

Matter for Public Co-operation

Mr. W. C. Neil, of Amburys. Limited, thought that daylight delivery should not be introduced unless there was a determined effort to put women into the industry Dairy companies would be pleased to see front gate delivery introduced if it would save manpower The union had agreed to an additional 10 gallons being delivered, and k really became a question whether the public were prepared to cooperate.

The producer-vendors' point of view was put by Mr. J. Patterson who said he was agreeable tg daylight delivery being instituted. It would enable the cows to be milked more regularly, give the farmer more time on his farm and save the labour of one man in four.

Mr. J. H. Stephens, of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Vendors' Association, considered that if daylight and front gate delivery was introduced older men who were unable to do the work under present conditions could be employed. The chairman, in thanking the speakers for the opinions they had expressed, said the council would consider the various points raised.