POSITION AT EDGECUMBE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 41, 19 January 1945, Page 5

POSITION AT EDGECUMBE

At the Rangitaiki Dairy Company's plant } thirty factory hands -and seventeen lorry drivers, went on strike last Tuesday morning after an indecisive period when the question was discussed for some, hours. The general decision to cease work was arrived at when news of other factories going out, was received. Immediately steps were taken by the management to call up an emer- ; gemcy staff of voluntary together with men from the harvesting camp at Matata. With the staff 5 the successful running of the factory was organised. The general Mr R. F. Blair, himself . joined the factory staff and helped out. Farmers took over the driving • of. the delivery and despatched a large shipment to Whakatane. Production in all its phases was maintained and the company is to be •congratulated on the effort it has made. Large grins were to be. seen on "the faces of the drivers as lorry j ■■■.after lorry piled high with butter boxes swung into Whakatane on Wednesday hist. It was obvious that the farmer-drivers, were taking their difficulties in. high good humour and were making the most 1 > • of their novel occupation. How many •of the farms fared is another matter, for the shortage of farm labour is well 'known. In conversation with the Secre-tary-Manager last, it was ■stated -that farmer-labour is offering very freely at Edgecumbe and there appears to be no possible shortage -occurring, even though the present hold-up should continue for longer than at first, anticipated. The work yesterday went particularly well and there were no hitches. The greatest praise is, due the Butter-Factory Manager and the engineering staff" without whom it would have been impossible to opaerate.