DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1924, Page 1

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

CASK BEFORE Alt BJ THAT lON COUHT.

AUCKLAND, May 3.

The wages and conditions of employment in the dairy industry were before the Arbitration Court, when claims for higher wages were made. -Mr J’. John, secretary of the Dairy Factory Employees’ Union, enlarged on the prosperity of dairying and spoke of the very long hours, Sunday work, and work on holidays.

Mr John said that the long hours could be eurtaileld by better management at the dairy factories, and he asked that fifty-two hours should he made the basis of a normal week’s work. Long hours, strenuous woilc and low wages were responsible for many ntcii giving up their employment. I: was asked that the wages of general Hands should be increased from JL'3 bs Kid to L'l Is a week.

William Diclc, manager of the Standard Butter Factory, Auckland, expressed tin- opinion that the factories could lie run on a fourty-eight hour week ni six days, lie bail not better results by giving the men one day off a week.

Mr Wright for the Dairy Companies said it was hardly fair to draw a comparison with Canterbury, which did not export to the same extent as Auckland. Kegariling youths, they practically weiy under apprenticeship. He submitted that hours could not lie reduced without deterioration of product or increased rust of production, which il would not be reasonable to expect the companies to hear. A large porlii:n of the product was exported and the price deix-mlcd on the Home markets. Practically all the companies were co-operative suppliers, receiving payment in exact proportion to the price realised by the company less cost of manufacture. Thus the position of suppliers must be considered and they were not receiving as much in April FJ23. For the ten months ended .March last, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. London declined on an average over 17s per cwt. Cheese showed a slight improvement., milk powder about 3.1 per cent decrease, while casein was now unpayable. Ihe employers did not seek a reduction in wages. Tlu-y 1-timatcd I hat living in the country was Ills weekly less than in the cities. Neither were inereasil linnr);, sought. Decision was reserved.