DAIRY-FACTORY WAGES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 47, 18 November 1937, Page 9

DAIRY-FACTORY WAGES

-Presa a»srtc5ation.)

Counter-Proposals Submitted By Employers THE COSTS FACTOR

(By Telezraph-

I | AUCKLAND, Last Night. ' The employers' replies to the claima. 'made by the representatives of the butter, cheese, casein, eondensed milk and dried milk branches of the dairy industry in the Dominion dispute brought before the Arbitration- Court by '. the New Zealand Dairy Workers' Union were submitted to the Court to-day. The case for the employers was presented. by Mr. W. E. Anderson. The workers were represented by Mr. J. Roberts, of Wellington. Mr. Anderson said it was contended that the manufacture of butter, cheese, and other produce in factories was a3 inuch part of the dairy industry as milk- . ing and separating. "Increased costs " cannot be passed on as in many other. industries," Mr. Anderson said. "The guaranteed price must ; be the average export price over two or three years." The Mi'nister of Marketing, Hon. W. Nash, had stated definitely that the account must be balanced, other wise any shortage would have to be made up by taxation, which was quite high enough. Incidentally, there was no guaranteed price for such lines as casein and dried milk. Except in the case of a few , financially substantial farmers higher costs could not be faced. They would [ mean that the labour could not be employed. The employers contended that the detailed classification proposed was merely a device on which to base claims for higher wages. Mr. Anderson said they claimed that these workers did not specialise and were merely factory workers. The counter-proposals for the employers were submitted by Mr. Anderson. He said no justification existed for the shorter hours suggested by the workers. The employers suggested the hours should be as follows: — • Butter factories in the North Island, August 15 to March 15, 48 hours a week; March 16 to August 14, 40 hours a week; South Island, September 15 to Apxil 15, 48 hours; April 18 to September 14, 40 hours. Cheese, casein, drying milk powder and eondensed milk factories: North Island, August 14 to May 14, 52 hours; May 15 to June 14, 44 hours; June 15 to August 13, 38 hours; South Island, September 14 to June 14, 52 hours;. June 15 to July 16, 44 hours; July 17 to" September 13, 38 hours. In each case it was suggested tho hours should be worked over any rix days of the week. The wages seale proposed by employers is based on the' 1931 award. Mr. Anderson said fhere were minor alterations. "Any increase in factory costs will have to come off the pay-out to the farmer," he added. Evidence for the employers was being t heard when the Court adjourned. —— — — ■ rmmm.