BUTTER AND CHEESE

Evening Star, Issue 19078, 22 October 1925, Page 1

BUTTER AND CHEESE

WORKERS SEEK INCREASED WAGES 'arbitration court hearing. The Arbitration Court—His Honor Mr Justice Frazer (president) and Messrs W. Scott and H. Hunter (assessors) —sat this morning to deal with the dispute between the Southland and Otago Cheese and Butter Factories AsI sistants’ Union, and the South Island j Dairy Association and about ninety j other persons and companies. Mr A. H. Mackrell, with Messrs A. ! W. Amos and 11. Arnett, appeared for , the employers. I Mr T. O’Bryne (Invercargill), with 1 Messrs J. P. Gardner (Mataura) and 11. Walker (Dunedin) appeared for the union. ■ In respect to cheese factories, the union asked for wages as follows: Where six vats and over are in use— First assistant, £5 6s a week; second, £5; third, £4 15s: fourth, £4 10s; all others, £4 4s. Where four to six vats . are in use—First assistant, £5 2s fid a week; second, £4 17s fid; third, £4 12s fid; all others, £4 4s. Where two to three vats are in use—First assistant, £5; second, £4 15s; all others, £4. 4s. One vat in use—Generals hands, £4 4s. For engine drivers with a firstclass ticket 10s lOd a day was sought; second-class ticket, 15a lOd: other drivers and stokers not holding a ticket, 16s, A working week of sixty hours (seven days) ‘ was asked. For workers in creamery and butter factories the following weekly rates were asked First grade, sis hands and over—Head foreman, who is employed butter-making, £6 10s; head cream graders and testers, £5 os; assistant cream graders and testers, £4 15s; first assistant, £5 7s fid; second assistant, £5 2s fid; tim'd assistant, £4 7s fid; all others, £4 4s. Second grade, from two to six hands—Hoad foreman, who is employed butter-making, £6 5s j head cream graders and testers, £5 ss; assistant cream graders and testers, £4 15s; first assistant, £5 ss; second assistant, £5; third assistant, £4 10s i all others, £4 4s. Third grade—Head foreman, who is employed butter-mak- ; ing, £6 6s; head cream graders and testers, £5 ss; assistant cream graders and testers, £4 15s; first assistant, £o 6s; second assistant, £5: all others, £4 1 4s. The following working time was sought:—From September SO to April 1, forty-eight hours per week of six’ days; from April 2 to September 30, forty hours per week of six days. Mr O’Bryne, in addressing the court, said an agreement had been reached on everything but the most important questions, those of wages and hours of work. The award would cover 300 workers in Otago and Southland. According to the Government official figures, there were 10,000 dairy supplies in Otago and Southland. 7,00 ft suppliers to butter factories, and 2,720 suppliers to cheese factories. The increase in wages and reduction in hours which the union was asking would moan no more than 4d a week to the fanners, and that would hardly ruin rhe industry. At present the men were working sixty-five hours at the same minimum rate (£3 17s) as the men working forty-eight hours. He did not see why the men should have to work sixty-fire 'hours in a. gretu industry .'for she'-vaano’ rate as workers’ on p forty-cight-hour week. Mr Hunter: They work at the same pace. Mr O’Bryne: “At the same pace and the same rate of pay.” He went on to say that under the Auckland, award sixty hours were worked, and the local union would be prepared to accept that. In Australia, which was in competition with New Zealand, the hours of work in cheese factories were forty-eight.' Nowhere was the industry more prosperous than in Otago and Southland. The work was of a casual nature, and for this reason the men should receive special consideration. For only five or six months in the year were all the workers employed in the industry. Evidence was then called by Mr O’Bryne. The court adjourned till the afternoon, when the employers’ case was heard.