THE FREEZING INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22804, 1 September 1939, Page 15

THE FREEZING INDUSTRY

TO THE EDITOR Of THE PRESS. i Sir,—Of all the industries necessary to the maintenance of the productivity, prosperity, and progress of pur country no sane-thinking observer, of whatever shade of political opinion, will deny that the freezing industry stands first and foremost in national importance; Statistical records spread over the last three decades ‘ are an amazingly depictive study .of the enormous national wealth 'accruing from this-vital primary, industry. As a producer and a consumer, it seems almost incredible to me that previous governments did not have the vision or the wisdom to have placed this' huge industrial organisation on a secure and Stable foundation, economically equitable, to the farming community ahd to the thousands of employees on whom it depends for its operation. An industry of such national importance should long before now have been Adsely fostered and carefully

by our legislators, but, so far, they have all failed to make any attempt to place this immense source of revenue and national prosperity on a stabilised, sound economic basis. Its record, however, is one long trail of incompetence and dissatisfaction, involved with industrial troubles, strikes, ever changing Arbitration Court awards, endless disputes at enormous loss and expense to the freezing workers, together with increased costs and reduced profits to the producer. (There is no evidence of the companies’ disinclination to farm the farmer). Unwieldy staffs of highlypaid officials, palatial offices, and fleets of sumptuous motor-cars are merely a few of the most obvious reasons contributing to the cost of operation, and financial loss to both the farmer and the freezing worker. Any competent business man, with the slightest grasp of the potential value of this most important primary industry, would, had he our legislators’ opportunity, promptly eradicate the present haphazard methods of operating an industry on which our national prosperity and social security in such a large measure depend. With your permission, I will, on this occasion, confine my observations to the sys'tem of employment of operatives, which is obsolete, unsatisfactory, and extremely* expensive, as, naturally, men temporarily employed in difficult and dangerous work under mostly disagreeable working conditions have, to be suitably compensated for its disabilities. For instance, several thousands of employees are annually engaged in what is termed a seasonal occupation, which in its essence is nothing more nor less than casual employment. Would not a much wiser method be to employ a selected staff of efficient employees at a special award rate of pay, which they would receive all the year round, whether work was available or not? They could be on call at all times from a roster compiled so that each one could be utilised as work was available, each employee to report at works weekly to receive pay ’due and Instructions for coming week. As an alternative, the companies could deduct, say, £1 10s from each pay during the season, to be subsidised equally by employer and Government, and paid at works office weekly during off season, or “slaok,” I believe it is called. A dependable staff of satisfied workers would then be always available, costs would be reduced by dispensing with overtime, overlapping, training new hands annually, etc. Unemployment would, be considerably reduced, trade and industry fostered, and, a -very important consideration, industrial upheavals and dislocation abolished. .

Space does not allow me to elaborate the manifold mutual advantages of this simple method of eradicating the ever-increasing burden' of uncertainty and rising costs of labour, which I am confident almost every worker in the industry would. be willing to forgo in return' for security of employment and standardised, regular pay. It is a wonder to me that union members have not* yet. instructed their officials to apply and press for this much-needed reform, with your permission I will deal later with a few of the producers’ problems and muchneeded alterations in the disposal of our produce. Hoping to in the near future see my suggestions carefuly considered by those most concerned—both the farmers and freezing workers’ unions.— Yours, etc., PRIME CANTERBURY. August 30, 1939.