Former Milne and Choyce staff laid off

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34074, 11 February 1976, Page 3

Former Milne and Choyce staff laid off

(Ar/r Zealand Press Association AUCKLAND, February !•>. Between 30 and 10 former employees of Milne and Chovce, Ltd, which was taken over hy Haywrights. Ltd. at the end of last month, have been given notice by their new employer.

Most of them were given to understand shortly before the take-over that their jobs would be safeguarded. Many of the employees given notice were in the old Milne and Choyce warehouse in Mount Roskill, hut some also work in the new Downtown store, in the china and foot ware depa rt men t s. The general manager of Haywrights (Mr G. R. Lawn) said today that the decision to cut staff had been made because of the different method of distribution by his company. Whereas Milne and Choyce had a central distribution'

point, his company largely relied on direct deliveries to stores. Consequently, some jobs had become redundant. All the employees concerned had been given seven working da vs nut ice. and would he given , full redundancy payments. "Naturally, its a big dis appointment to us.” he said. “The understanding that jobs would be safeguarded was given before all aspects of the operation were fully understood. I don’t think the undertaking really covered everybody employed by Milne and Choyce.”