INCREASE SUGGESTED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 176, 20 April 1940, Page 8

INCREASE SUGGESTED

0 Hours Of Work In Dominion Dominion Special Service, MORRINSVILLE, April 19. A suggestion that hours of work in New Zealand should be extended to 44 a week without an increase iu pay was made by Mr. IV. E. Hale, chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, at the northern ward conference of the board in Morrinsville. Mr. Hale said that there would be more hope for the future if there was evidence that certain sections of the workers showed recognition of tlie fact that only by increased eilicieucy could better living conditions be se-

cured. Dairy farmers were arbitrarily tied to a high standard of eilicieucy and the same should he demanded of other sections of the community. It was difficult to attract labour to farms while city conditions were so much superior both as regards wages and hours. Unless radical changes were made in the present policy, Mr. Hale added, he could not see how increased production could be brought about. At the outbreak of war the Dairy Board offered the full co-operation of the industry to tlie Goveriiinent. It was felt that all should unite iu a common effort to win the war, and that the greatest contribution New Zealand farmers could make was to increase the production of dairy produce. All matters in dispute between the board and the Government had been suspended. Mr. Hale said he regretted that though the need for an increased price to offset increased and increasing costs had been repeatedly stressed to the

Minister as tne one sure way io unus about an immediate improvement in production, the Minister would not agree to any increase. This year’s increased production had been brought about by the forces of nature aud a particularly kindly season in those districts in which production was greatest, added Mr. Hale. In part, the increase had been made as the result of greater effort on the part of dairy-farmers and their wives and families. Production had been falling in New Zealand during the past three seasons because dairying under today’s high costs was less attractive than formerly. The present season's small increase was not due to any increased popularity in dairying. The symptoms that had caused a decline in past seasons were still present, and unless particularly favourable conditions were experienced next season, there was likely to be a downward trend once more.