WORK IN DAIRY FACTORIES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20302, 30 July 1931, Page 10

WORK IN DAIRY FACTORIES.

QUALITY OF CHEESE. EFFECTS OF LIMITATION OF HOURS. A claim that good butter and cheese could not be made in a liurry, and that the present limitation of the hours of •workers in dairy factories resulted in working to the clock in the various processes, and consequent injury to the product, -was mado by speakers at the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers' Conference yesterday. The discussion concerned more the manufacture of cheese than of butter, and a point stressed was that a contributory factor was the late delivery of milk to the factories by suppliers. The matter was brought before the conference in consideration of a romit from Mr J. Murray (New Plymouth), as follows:—"That it would be in the best interests of the industry from a point of equality of dairy produce if thero was no limitation in working hours in dairy factories, and as a measure of protection of dairy workers a wage should be paid commensurate . with, the average weekly hours required to manufacture quality goods, and that a time limit for receiving milk in the factories be iixed, so that working hours might be correspondingly reduced.''

Quality and Time of Process. Mr Murray said that much had been said concerning the quality of cheese. Whether the difficulty was duo to the limitation of hours in tho factory or not, was for the managers to decide. In tlje early days of- his experience nothing connected with the manufacture of cheese had been done by tho clock. Since the limitation of hours had been brought in, every manager and every first assistant had at the back of his mind the thought that he must not exceed certain hours of work. No man in charge of a factory would increase the cost of manufacture if he could avoid it. The present system of hours meant that tho processes of manufacture were rushed through by clock —that should be eliminated. If it meant that a 9-hour day had to be worked, then let a 9-liour. day bo paid for. A longer day 011 one occasion, would be set off by a shorter one 011 another. Since the men had been tied dovyn to certain hours they had not given their work tho same interest as before. If tho conference supported tho movo for the abolition of limitation of hours it would go a long way toward achieving the desired end. Mr M. Henderson (Menzies Ferry) said that the present system meant tlmt tho managers watched the clock to avoid overtime, and aimed at getting through as quickly as they could. Supporting the remit, Mr P. C. 11. Peterson said that 110 other dairying country of any importance worked under 'a limitation of hours in the industry. Ho had been\ reading trade papers from Denmark and Holland, and the system did not apply in either of those countries. To make quality goods it was necessary to have no Restriction 011 hours.

Delay Tlirougli Late Supply. The real difficulty,, said Mr \Y. rie (Seawood Downs), although tho limit of hours was contributory, was the hour of supply of milk to the factory in tho morning. Tho limitation was in a certain degree against tho production of quality goods, but there were occasions in which the managers did not make tho best of the conditions fixed by the Arbitration Court.* He considered tho men would be willing to' have the limit deleted, provided that a reasonable time was fixed for the reception of milk in the mornings. Ho believed that a time limit on this count of 9 a.m., with no milk received after that hour, would make for the improvement of quality and a more harmonious relation between managers and employees. Mr J. L. Taylor (Ohoka) said that tii Taranaki milk-carts could be seen going to tho factory at 30 a.m. That was not going to improve the quality of tho milk.

Mr -J. Middloton (Christchurcli) said that there was not a chance of getting the abolition of fixed hours. He thought that if the hours were fixed, at a wage that would satisfy, paying for overtime at ordinary rates, tho men would be content. All know that cheese could not be made in a hurry. The managers were out to make a good article for the good of the whole industry. They should give each other the benefit of their knowledge.

Mr J. Walter said that there was no award in Canterbury, and he did not suppose there were lower-paid factories anywhere else in the Dominion. Yet there was no difficulty in getting men who were out to get the best quality. Mr Bagrie said that there was a danger of tho abolition of limited hours resulting in some factories taking ad*' vantage of tho fact, and working the men unnecessarily long hours. Mr D. M. McDonald (Mataura) said that his factory had a fixed hour—9 a.m. —for the deliverer-o,f milk, but that it had been found that there was so great a rusfy of delivery in the last twenty minutes or so that it vtas impossible to receive it all by tho hour fixed. Other members pointed out that often it was necessary to wait half an hour for the last man's milk to come in. Work could not be if it was that man's milk was cut out—and the result was dissatisfaction on the part of all concerned. The remit was adopted.

COMMERCIAL BANKING COMPANY. EIGHT PER CENT. DIVIDEND. (PEB33 ASSOCIATION TF.LB3P..V.M.) " WELLINGTON, July 29. The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney has advised the Stock Exchange Association that the directors have declared' a final dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, por annum for the half-year ended Juno 30th.

The dividend paid for a number of years has been at the rate of 10 per cent. Tli£ net profit in XS3O was £587,619. The capital of iho bank is ,£4,739,012, and *he reserves at last balance totalled i' 4,385,226. ~ The ehare3 are £l2 10s paid, with £l2 10s yer share liability on liquidation.

CLEARING SALE. H. C. Smith, of the City Market, held nn auction sale on account of the trustee in the estate of tho New Spectator, Ltd. The principal lots sold were:—Linotype .£2O, proof press 27s 6d, platen press £2, ticket machine £3 10s, stapler ill, d. demy press £2O, 2 motors (D.C.) £2 10s, shafting £3 10s, guillotine £5, leads £5 Bs, qupds 20s, Klensa lioyal chases 80s, wood type 20s, Cheltenham and De Vine type £3O, office chairs £2 7s 6d, office tables to 21s, book press 15s.