DAIRY LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 133, 7 June 1941, Page 6

DAIRY LABOUR

DRAIN ON MAN-POWER

DRIFT TO SECONDARY

INDUSTRIES

The question of available labour foi farms and dairy factories is giving the dairy industry grave concern. Tht report to the National Dairy Conference refers to the absence of a large number of experienced factory workers with the fighting services as already creating "serious problems and with the necessity to work two shifts in many oi the cheese factories during the coming season, H i: absolutely essential that remaining key men should oe retained in the industry."

The matter has become a national problem, and it is hoped that the Government will heed urgent representations which have been made on the subject to the Minister ot National Service by the Dairy Industry Council. "The Minister fully appreciates the position and has already stated that appeal boards have been recommended to postpone the service of experienced farm and factory workers," the report states.

The proposal to utilise the services of women and girls for .ight work in the factories would not relieve the situation to any greai extent, tht report states, as most ot the work involved in the manufacturing processes is of too heavy a nature for female workers. This scheme was tried out during the last war, but the scope was found to be very limited.'l

The drain on man-power is accentuatgtl by tlie drift of rural workers to secondary industries where shorter hours and higher rates of pay are attracting many men from their normal occupations.

The Dairy Industry Council has urged that an order should be issued making it compulsory for employees to remain in essential industries unless granted permission to transfer to other employment.