PROBLEM OF WAGES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume V, Issue 457, 26 June 1937, Page 5

PROBLEM OF WAGES

SMALL FACTORIES COSTS Existence Endangered Press Association—CopvTtght Hamilton, June 25. “The wages problem to-day is becoming so serious that the possibility of small factories being forced out of existence is giving real concern to the industry,” said Mr E. B. Corbett, of the Oxford Dairy Company, Limited, at the National Dairy Conference this afternoon. Mr Corbett quoted the case of one factory where labour costs for the year were 0.86 d per lb. butter-fat for an output of 300 tons, and if the employees' demands were realised it would rise to 1.2 d. This would be a very serious position. The conference adopted an Ohakune remit stating that in the application of various awards in connection with both managers and workers some measure of protection should be extended to small cheese factories, particularly where the season was of eight months’ duration. The opinion was expressed that the objects of the employees’ union were such that the small factory, which in the past had been the means of keeping many on their farms, would probably have to close unless it was given some protection. Several delegates were perturbed at the suggested inclusion of managers in proposed awards.