Serious Shortage Of Staff Feared In Cheese Factories

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1942, Page 2

Serious Shortage Of Staff Feared In Cheese Factories

Serious staffing problems in cheese factories were likely to have far-reaching effects on the industry, it was suggested at the annual meeting oi the West Coast Refrigerating Company Ltd. at Patea yesterday, when Mr. G. H. Meuli said the T. L. Joll Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd. last Monday was in need of 40 men to complete its staffing requirements. The need for some action was discussed, but no action was taken. The discussion occurred after Mr. E, K. Cameron, organising secretary of the South Taranaki Primary Production Council, had made an appeal for in■creased production and outlined the procedure to be adopted in connection with appeals. "One way we can get manpower straight away is by lifting the restriction on hours of work," declared Mr. J. P. Marx. When Mr. Cameron said he could not see how more men would be made available by lifting the restriction, Mr. MarX said it would not make more men available, but there would be more labour available, and it was pointed out that this labour was already available if companias were prepared to »pay overtime. "Those who are working the longest hours to-day are being appealed to by the Government and by its representatives to work still longer hours," said Mr. Marx. "I think the position should be recognised and some action taken. If Nippon comes there will be no 40-hour or even 50-hour week." - i , The seriousness of the position - was stressed by several speakers, but fihey I did not think the problem would '-1*6 . solved by lifting the restriction on hours. There did not appear to be much prospect, it was stated, that the change to butter in some areas would give reliaf to staffing problems.