MAKING CHEESE FOR BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23477, 4 November 1941, Page 6

MAKING CHEESE FOR BRITAIN

LABOUR WANTED IN FACTORIES MINISTER’S APPEAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 3. ; An appeal for labour to work in cheese factories for this season’s production was made to-night by the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple). He said the. appeal was cUrecteo to all workers who had'.experience in cheese factories, and particularly 'o physically fit men who had . had no experience. If they were not\, already, engaged, on essential war work, 1 1 they might weir regard this as their contribution to the war effort, and ;; offer their services to the nearest > placement officer. The officer would be able to offer a choice of localities, , but vacancies existed mainly in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Taranaki districts. • “Large supplies of foodstuffs, particularly butter and cheese, were previously imported .by l . Great/,BMiht% from countries how in enemy tion, and consequently our people in J the Homeland pave had to look to \ other sources of supply, with the result that New Zealand has been asked by the United Kingdom Government to send greatly increased supplies of cheese, said Mr Semple, “To produce the quantity required involves an increase of approximately 50 per cent over the total production for last season. This necessitated a good deal of reorganisation within the industry in the change-over of factories from but* ter to cheese, and an increase in the number of vats in existing factories,! but the dairy companies set to work J • immediately, and are now ready to handle increased production! , • “The only difficulty that remains to be overcome is the supply of sufficient labour) Both skilled and unskilled : workers are still required. Accommo- , dation for married men is available at factories, and the Government has ' provided for free fares for workers and their families who transfer to ad- , other district; also a free grant is made of 50 per cent, of the cost of transporting furniture and effects, the maximum grant being £l2 10s in any oil* case. ■ \ “This work is regarded by the Government as of vital importance, and I would earnestly appeal to aJI workers who are not already engaged on essential war work to step forward and offer their services immediately for cheese factory work,” the Minister said. This was the second appeal of , this nature which he had made. , :