DAIRY WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1937, Page 15

DAIRY WORKERS

WAGES AND HOURS

EVIDENCE BEFORE COURT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Further evidence on behalf of the workers was called by Mr. J. Roberts (Wellington) in the Arbitration Court today in connection with the dairy workers' application .for a Dominion award.

Francis Emmerson Forster, foreman packer of theMatangi Condensed Milk Factory; Waikato, said he received a weekly wage of £4. 10s. He had ten persons under him, including women, whose wages ranged from£l 16s to £2 a week. The men worked 52 hours a week and received Is 6d an hour, or £4 Is a week. The management had expressed the opinion that at leas'; five of the men, apart from the first assistant,-were skilled workers. Other men, he would say, excepting the firstyear men, were semi-skilled. About 40 per cent, of the, men . were employed all the year round, and the others for about seven months. He considered his wages should be £5 15s a'week.

Raymond Silas Harris, first assistant in the New Zealand Co-operative Company's dried milk factory at Waharoa, near Matamata, said his duties were to supervise the staff and production Of the commodity. The process was continual, and shift work was necessary. He considered that men--■ on "wash-up" work" should work shorter hours- because of the unpleasant nature of the work. Employees worked 52 hours a week. There was no reason why the work should not be done in a day of eight hours instead of sometimes nine as at present. His wages were £5 3s 6d a week.

, Mr. Roberts called evidence from each class of factory which the award was claimed to cover; namely, casein, dried milk, condensed milk, butter, and cheese. Witnesses stated that the classification for employees, as set out- in the union's claims was necessary since some factories were not members of the union previously. Witnesses, also agreed that the hours were easily reducible if staffs were .slightly, increased. . .

The. hearing is proceeding.