HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM

Chronicle (Levin), 19 December 1946, Page 5

HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM

NEW PLYAfOUTH, Dec. 18. Elimination of overtime work and employment of more stalf were. ad VMiiced in Taranaki yestferday as pos sibilities arising out of the Government 's decision to inerease overtime for% dairy factory workers from time itnd a liaif to double time. A company secretary said tliat on the basis of time and a half the cost of extra stalf to do overtime work and the cost of employing .the existing stalf for longei hours were about the same. Apart from the ponui rate of time and a half whicli had been paid foi work on Saturdays aiul Sundays, some conipanies have been employing their stalf for a 48-hour weok and paving time aiul a half for the extra eighl

hours, it wns explained. Some Tara ntiki factories adhere to a 40-hou'i working week, with some men work ing three norma! days aiul on Satur days and Sundays at the penal rate. Otliers, because of the difficulty in obtaining stalf, work longer hours, paving both Ihe penal rate for weekend work and for tlie extra time worked. At doulile rates for overtime, how ever, conipanies would make a linancial saving by employing more stalf and dispensing entirely with overtime work. It was poiitted out that the stumbling block to this proposal might be diffi culty in obtaining sufficient stalf. A company secretary said that the bare wage for a factory worker was a

fairly poor living, but with the addi tion of overtime rates aiul weekend rates it was made up to a reasouable sum. Although he had not heard anv mention of an impending strike in Taranaki or whether the payment of the inerease in rate for " overtime would satisfy employees, he considered that if Ihe dairy compauies resorted to increasing staffs and eliminating overtime there might be dissatisfaction among dairy workers.