The Dairy, Industry

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 182, 30 April 1936, Page 7

The Dairy, Industry

In the Factory Amendment Bill there is a clause ‘That no worker in a dairy factory shall work more than six days a week.” Does this mean that the dairy factory is to close down on one day a week? If so, it is a retrograde step, ns in the flush season (October to March) the sooner cream is removed to the factory the better. Many factories could not hold, nor the present motor-lorries carry, the two days’ supply in the flush season. If the clause means the factories remain open seven days a week, but that the staff works only six days, it is quite-un-workable. For instance, the grader, who tastes and grades each can of cream, is a certificated man, and what about the tester, who takes samples each day, the buttermaker, the engineer and the manager, who is to take their places? Factories are generally in isolated positions, with no surplus labour near, and these jobs are highly technical and it takes years to train men for them. From four to' five months in the year, when the supply of cream is delivered on alternate days or lem, the men have a sixday week and often less. In addition, they are kept on all the year round at most factories; they take their annual leave in the winter and do odd jobs about the factory until the season opens again. I have been a supplier and director for over 25 years, and I claim that in the summer months a weekly holiday is not workable, nor is it in the beet interests of the industry. Just as the farmer has to milk his cows twice a day all the summer, so also has the factory to work each day in order that the very best quality article may be produced. I sincerely hope the clause will be amended so that it will not apply to at least the six flush months of the year.—l am, etc.. H. McMANAWAY. Rata, April 22.