DAIRY FACTORY MANAGERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 19 June 1914, Page 3

DAIRY FACTORY MANAGERS

ANNUAL MF.KTING OK ASSOCIATION (From Our Special Reporter).

About forty members attended the

annual meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers' Association, which was held at Palmerston on Tuesday evening.' Mr W. C. Dixon (Thames Valley) presided. The report emphasised the fact that the Association was the only recognised body through which the opinions on matters pertaining to their calling could be expressed in unity, and while able to report the increased membership, regretted that a number of managers took no interest in their work. In response to the circulars concerning Managers' salaries, several companies had replied agreeing to the opinion expressed therein, but it was a matter of regret that a section appeared'to turn a deaf ear to their request. In this connection it was arranged to hold a conference of representatives of the Association with the Executive, of the National Dairy Association during Palmerston Show week for | the purpose of asking that a minimum j scale of salaries should. be submitted and if possible agreed upon for all cheese and butter factories outside the Southland Union's district, such conference in its decision to have due regard to respective companies' outputs. With other great measure the result of this conference would determine the form in which the Association should continue to represent their united interests. It was hoped that an agreement would be arrived at, ensuring the continuance of that confidence which had hitherto generally prevailed between dairy companies' directors and their managers. The Dairy Commissioner's proposals for the payment of milk and cream, on a purity basis, necessitated a full and free discussion, and it was trusted that such would culminate in a decisive resolution. Officers were elected as follows: —President, Mr W. C. Dixon (Thames Valley); vice-presidents, Messrs J. Middleton (Canterbury Central), M. T. West (Daleford), D. Kelly (Ballance Co., Konini), committee, Messrs W. Kilpatriek (Kairangi), G. Cooper (Mangatoki), Sterling T. 0. Irvine (Greytown), A. J. Iredale (Taihape), W. J. Guild (Cape Egmont), Callaghan (Pihama); secretary and treasurer, (Mr J. Murray (Taradale); auditor, Mr W. E. Bcndall.*

The president remarked that many managers in his district were not members because they saw no use in paying 10s Cd subscription to a Society which they said met once a year and donated prizes to various shows. That, perhaps, was a narrow view to take. In view of the fact that some dissatisfaction existed between some managers and directorates in the matter of salaries, the Association, as an incorporated body, quite distinct from any Unionistic idea, could exert considerable weight for their 1 benefit. He did not advocate ability measures, but they could show in the honorable way that as members of the Association they were striving to help each other in a business in which their interests were identical with that of the directorate and some members deprecated the manner in which they conducted their affairs, but, after all, the Association could only be what the members as a body made it. They would only lie too happy to enlarge its usefulness if the members made suggestions in that direction.

The meeting then went into committee, on the most important business on the order paper, viz., the fixing of minimum salaries as a basis for delegates to look upon in their conference with the Directors of the National Dairy Association.

After considerable discussion, a committee of fifteen was appointed to draw up a schedule of salaries, to be submitted to a later general meeting of the Association.