THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 55, 3 November 1915, Page 3

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

RECRUITING THE EMPLOYEES. POSSIBLE DANCERS. MATTER FQR THE AUTHORITIES. At yesterday's meeting of the Stratford Patriotic Committee, Mr Kirkwood said there was a very important matter he would like to see discussed, and that was tli e matter of recruiting from tlio dairy and cheese factories. On account of a number of the factory employees enlisting, it had been suggested that this should he replaced by rejected men, returned soldiers, and it had even been said that women could do the work. The country had to keep industries going as well as fight, and he thought it was a senseless thing to allow the expert men to enlist if their places could not be filled. He suggested that a conference should be held in Taranaki to consider the question. Mr Belcher said Mr Kirkwood had raised a very important question, and suggested that the recruiting officer communicate with the factory managers to find out what positions the men held before they were accepted. Mr Masters said the recruiting officer was not in a position to do that, if a man offered his services, they could not be refused in the manner referred to.

Mr Kirkwood said tlie question of recruiting from the dairy factories was not one for Stratford, but for Taranaki, and it would effect the district as a whole. As many recruits a« could be got were required, and if factory hands, including cheese and butter-makers, could be replaced from any of the sources suggested, then factory managers should not stand in the way of the men enlisting. If on the other hand it was found that a per centage of the more expert factory workers could not be replaced, now was the time to consider the matter. He believed that an understanding on the question would be very helpful to recruiting. Mr Dingle, chairman of the Stratford Dairy Company, said he was very pleased the question was raised. Any hut expert men would be practically useless in a butter or cheese factory. as none but experts could make up raw material. His experience was that the companies could not get men to take the position of those who volunteered. livery man working in a factory had his own duties to perform. He said he knew of a case where a young man wanted to enlist. hut the factory manager ■ approached him and asked him to stay until be found a man to take his place. A man could not be found, so the would-be recruit decided to stay on until the rush season was over. There were many older men m Taranaki who were used, to the work, or at one time had had a dairy of their own, and he suggested that the services of such men could be utilised. Mr ( .W. chairman of the Cardiff Dairy Company, said he could not see how returned soldiers could do the work of men in cheese factories. If the men were not lit to light, in his opinion, they would not he fit to work in a factory. If a man was not in good health, he could not hit 801 bof cheese about. Four men had enlisted from his factory, and on Mr Kirkwood's recommendation, ho had interviewed t'iiein, with the result that three decided to stay until the end of the season. The other man would not stay, but it was better to lose one than four.

Mr Dingle said lie wished to make it clear that the factories tlitl not hamper the men in any way from enlisting.

Mr Sangster said ho did not know how many men would have to go. In other parts of the world the women were-doing the work of men, and in time, they would most likely have to do the same here. Women could do some work in, the factories. '■'' Mr Masters said the farmers of Taranaki and New Zealand could not expect to get through the war without making some great sacrifice. He did not want to see recruiting hampered by the farmers in any way. The Cardiff'' factory did not wish four of its employees to enlist, but the company -should sacrifice their employees to the last man. Mi' Sangster said he had one son at the front and another going, and tlie girls had to stay at home ami do the work. Rev. Pattison said he did not wish to cast any reflection on the Patriotic spirit of the farmers, but he thought

girls, in a few cases, could take Hie places of men. Mr Dingle said he questioned it' the companies could make use of women in the factories. The employees bad to work all hours and in all weather. He was quite prepared to sacrifice all the men they could. While going through the town, he noticed many young men Serving behind the counters in the shops, and in his opinion, they could be replaced by women. The men working in the factories were time they were at'work they perspired all over. No woman could stand that seven days a week. Mr Masters said women were not able to do the work in the factories. A factory employing four or five young men might allow one or two to go and replace them by rejected men. In answer to Mr Dingle, he would like to say two of his men had enlisted and two more had handed in their names, but had been rejected. Tt was only fair to state that many men in the towns had enlisted, but failed to pass the medical test. Mr Thomas said the first thing to do was to get the Germans away. Jf he was in power, the Government would take control of all men and all wealth. Ho was tired of the country v. town controversy. Rev. Pattison said he favored .Mr Kirkwood's suggestion that a conference of dairy factory managers or directors of Taranaki, should be held to discuss the of accepting recruits from the factories. Mr Maloue said the National Register would show the number of butter and cheesemakers in New Zealand. The chairman said he was pleased that such a useful talk had been indulged in. Mr Kirkwood thanked the members for expressing their opinions on the matter of accepting recruits from dairy factories. He hoped those present would see fit to call a conference to consider the matter.