MILK DELIVERY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1942, Page 4

MILK DELIVERY

INCREASING DIFFICULTY

The difficulties facing the Wellington City Council's milk department owing to the drain on man-power were commented upon yesterday by Mr. R. E. Herron, the general manager.

"We are, at the moment, and have for some time, been facing many difficulties in the maintenance of this essential service, and in particular on the distributing side," he said. "So far we have been able to carry on by lengthening hours of work by arrangement with the union. The department is doing all it can to maintain the service given in the past, and we' are making the best possible use of the labour available, but the difficulties

are increasing all the time.

"Distribution work naturally calls for young, able, and fit men. So far the production of milk has not been materially affected, though there is a shortage of farm labour."

Since the outbreak of war 315 menhave been engaged by the. department to make replacements in the constantly changing personnel, in order to maintain the normal strength of approximately 250 employees. Through the latest call-up, the services of quite a number of roundsmen and other employees will be lost. All departments are affected, but one-third; of the "department's engineering staff is liable to be called up and one-fifth (nine employees) of the dairy (treating). staff, will be called up.