DAIRY FACTORIES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 194, 14 May 1936, Page 10

DAIRY FACTORIES

Smaller Companies and Six-day Week EXEMPTION PROPOSAL The exemption of small dairy factories from the provision in the Factories Amendment Bill restricting employment in dairy factories or creameries to six days of the week is under consideration, it was stated by the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, when moving the second reading of the Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister indicated that factories granted such exemption would be required 'to give their employees time off on full pay at the end of the season equivalent to the extra time worked. Mr. Armstrong said no reasonable objection had been taken to the six-day week in dairy factories, particularly in the larger ones, but it had been pointed out to him that there would be some difficulty in the way of giving effect to the proposal so far as the smaller factories were concerned. These small factories did not employ sufficient hands to enable a six-day week to be operated, nor would it be practicable or possible for them to secure an extra hand when required. The Minister said he bad discussed the matter with representatives of the dairy factories, and one from the Waikato had pointed out to him that the dairy companies were not complaining ou the score of expense, but that the six-day week was unworkable in the small factories. If they were allowed to work a seven-day week the smaller factories were prepared to give the equivalent of the extra time worked in time off on full pay at the end of the season. An amendment along those lines was being drafted. Some of the companies were also of opinion that some arrangements would have to be made for exemption so far as the holiday provisions of the Bill relating to Christmas Day and Boxing Day were concerned. Irrespective of holidays, cows had to be milked just the same and the factories worked. Then men would have to be compensated for work done on these days, and it was suggested this should be done by allowing compensated time off. “I am pleased the Minister proposes to Introduce an amendment dealing with hours of work in dairy factories.” said the Hon. A. Hamilton (Opposition, Wallace), who followed Mr. Armstrong In the debate. “As the clause stood originally we would have bad to contest it very strenuously.” “In Southland and Otago there are 76 dairy factories, 33 of which have an output of less than 100 tons of cheese annually. Of those. 33 there are 11 with annual outputs of under 60 tons. It would be impossible for them to manage ou a six-day week. One man has (old me that if the Bill went through ns originally framed and if the 1931 wages were restored, 27 factories in tire district would have to close. Where only one or two men are being employed in a factory with a small output it is almost impossible to bring on extra hands to provide for a six-day week.” Mr. W. J. Bolson (Opposition, Stratford) commended the promise of the Minister that, special consideration would be given to the small dairy factories. “That will allow the smaller factories and the one-man creameries to keep going,” he said. Mr. A. F. Moncur (Government. Rotorua): Where are there one-man creameries? Sir. Polson: There are plenty in Taranaki, operated by one man when the milk comes in. PRIMARY SCHOOLS Effect of Limitation On Attendance

Information as to whether a child was legally compellable to pass a primary school which is nearer the child’s home to attend another school where there is greater accommodation was sought by Mr. T. 11. McCombs (Government, Lyttelton) in a question a<ked on behalf of the Speaker. lion. W. E. Barnard (Napier), in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister of Education, Hon. B. Fraser, replied that in order to prevent overcrowding in a public school an education board might, with the approval of the Minister and under certain conditions, limit the attendance at such school in such manner as the board determined. In the exercise of this power it might be found that a child was compelled to pass a primary school which was nearer to the child’s h£>m.e to attend another school.