FACTORY MANAGERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1922, Page 6

FACTORY MANAGERS.

THE QUESTION GF SALARIES/ PROPOSED REDUCTION. (From Our Special Reporter.) Palmerston N., June 22. The proposal to reduce factory managers’ salaries formed the subject of considerable discussion at the meeting of the N.D.A. at Palmerston North this week. Some of the delegates were much con_ cerned at the fact that the Taranaki Employers’ Union had arranged a conference with the Factory Managers- Association, it being considered that the conference should have been between the managers and delegates from factories all over New Zealand. It was pointed out that the Taranaki Employers’ Union was the only registered body with whom the managers would negotiate, but Mr. Marx, president of the union, said they would have no objection to delegates from the rest of the North Island being added, providing the factory managers would agree.

Aceordinglyly eight from the rest of the North Island were appointed, making twelve in all, and they met representatives of the managers. It appears that the Taranaki Union wish to make the reduction 10 per cent, in the case of .butter factory managers and 15 per cent, for cheese, and the Taranaki managers agreed to accept 5 per cent, and 7£ per cent, respectively.

At the adjourned annual meeting of the Factor}’ Managers’ Association Mr. Smith, the secretary, reported on the result of the conference with the factory representatives, and said it was for the society to say whether they were prepared to accept a reduction «in salaries of 5 per cent, for butter men and 7£ per cent, for cheese men so that a pro. posal along these lines could be submitted to the factory representatives. After a discussion in committee, a second conference was held between the managers and the factory representatives, and the former offered to accept a reduction in salaries as suggested by the secretary on condition that the minimum salary did not fall below £225 per annum.

Mr. Morton, speaking for the factory representatives, said they had decided to adhere to the reduction set out in the scale already issued, namely, 10 per cent, on butter and 15= pet cent, on cheese.

The chairman thanked the factory representatives, and said he was sorry that they could not accept the managers’ proposition. He did not think the factory representatives were fully aware of the keenness of the managers in their desire to further the interests of farmers. Mr. Marx said he was in sympathy with the worker, and if there W’as to be any extra payment he would rather give it to the worker than in any other way. A manager asked what the proposed reduction would mean to the small farmer. A Voice: About 3s. The deputation then withdrew. It was left in the hands of the Dominion executive to arrange a conference with the N.D.A. for the purpose of discussing salaries.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. The adjourned annual meeting of the Dairy Factory Managers’ Association was held at Palmerston North on Wednesday evening. There was an attendance of over 100, and Mr. A. J. Garry presided.

The following remit was considered: “That it be a recommendation that all curing rooms be equipped with refrigeration.”—Lost.

The chairman moved: “That it be a recommendation that a system of grad, ing milk for cheese factories be introduced, payment for such milk to be based on quality.”—Lost. ■Officers were elected as follows: Dominion president, Mr. A. F. Neilson (Taranaki; district presidents, Mana, watu; Mr. D. Hall; Bush district, Mr. L. C. Farquhar; Hawkes Bay, Mr. H. B. Rankin; Auckland, Mr. A. Norris; South Island, Mr. J. Middleton; Wairarapa, Mr. Brash; secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. W. Smith; ■auditor, Mr. W. E. Bendall.

It w’as decided that the secretary’s honorarium for the past year be £75.