MILK SUPPLIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 79, 3 April 1911, Page 6

MILK SUPPLIERS.

A FAR-REACHING QUESTION. I ____ ■. . ,- m

A slight discission ithat occurred »t> . the Arbitration Court this morning die- ' closed the fact that fine Dairy Employees' award, made some dairie ago according to terms agreed to by employers and; 1 employees, will have an unexpected and far-reaching effect possibly with seripua consequences to those people who ' »ne or two cows and earn a few shillings by supplying with Siaail - quantities of milk. The matter cropped " up through an application being made m on the suggestion of the MOk Vendors' ■.% Association, to add a large number ot ■ , parties to the award. The persons cited .J include all those wtao are the registered s owners of dairies, and embrace every- j one who has a dairy, irrespective of size y and number of cows milked. The award >': in the trade provides for wages and commission to men engaged in delivering milk, and makes no provision at all for \?t. the employment of >boys or other cheap 1 labour in the case of the people who ip supply milk to a few neighbours, and '<£ who it is claimed should be bound by the || terms of the award because entering into ,;? competition with milk vendors. The posl- .. | tion appears to be that these people wfao \j are engaged in the trade in a small way ( ' at present may increase the ecope of theix operations at any time and escape r : prosecution for a breach committed until such time as they are added as parties, V In order to protect .themselves from this -j possible and to combat unfair 'g competition, the milk vendore have takep ■ the present action 'to have all dairy >■■ owners added as parties to the award. ' On the other 'hand, the people who keflp a few cows or have a surplus supply oi >| milk will not be able to continue supply- fj] ing to neighboura by labour ofclier than , their own, even precluding the employ- , ment of their own children, if the appli- 4 cation is successful. Tha matter has been adjourned till IViday morning next, and all persons -wiio have been ritod will *' ilnd it advisable to attend the Court if -f they do not wish to be deprived of <M? ■'■! isting privileges.