HELPING OUTPUT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21187, 9 August 1940, Page 7

HELPING OUTPUT

CHEESE FACTORY HOURS SUSPENSION OF AWARD SPECIAL SCALE OF WAGES (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The programme which is being embarked upon by the dairy industry to increase the production of cheese by 15,000 tons during the coming production season was discussed at a meeting of the Industrial Emergency Council held in Parliament Buildings this week. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, said tonight that to achieve this object it was considered necessary that the factories should be enabled to work to the fullest limits. Consultations had therefore taken place with both the employers’ and workers’ organisations with a view to satisfactory working arrangements being made.

The Council had unanimously recommended that the provisions of the dairy factories employees’ award about hours be suspended, so as to enable a 52-hour week to be worked during the whole season in any cheese factory where cheese was being manufactured on every day of the week.

In lieu of overtime the payment of a special scale of wages was fixed for the workers who were working 52 hours. For work in excess of four hours on Saturday and for time worked on a Sunday or holiday or in excess of 52 hours a week, special rates prescribed by the award are to be had “ The arrangement is considered highly satisfactory both from the workers’ standpoint and from the viewpoint of increased production, and is one among many efforts being put forward in the Dominion to assist Great Britain in the war effort,” said Mr Webb.