DAIRY PRICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 February 1947, Page 2

DAIRY PRICE

REVISIONSOUGHT “WIDESPREAD UNREST WITHIN INDUSTRY” EFFECT OF CABINET ACTION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. A decision to write to the Prime Minister (Mr. P. Fraser) immediately to ask for a reopening of the subject of this season’s price, and to call together the Dairy Board’s Dominion conference as early as possible in March, was made at a meeting of the Dairy Industry Council recently. •The Government’s decision to revoke the second schedule of the Factories Act has caused widespread unrest within the dairy industry. It is stated that one effect is that dairy factories, although compelled to work seven days a week during the flush of the season, will have to pay penalty rates for overtime work, even where this work is carried out as part of the employees’ 40-hour week.

“Standing Alone.” Farm workers and farmers now take the view that they stand alone in New Zealand in having to work at week-ends without receiving overtime pay.

The Dairy Industry Council set up a special committee to bring down facts about the new position. This committee comprises Messrs W. E. Hale (Turua), chairman of the Dairy Board, C. P. Agar (Christchurch), W. Marshall (Hamilton), and H. E. Blyde (Lepperton). The committee will report back to the council before the Dominion dairy conference, and will present a full report to the conference, which is the body that formulates the dairy industry policy.

The letter forwarded to the Prime Minister was signed by Mr. Hale, and is as follows:—

“Yesterday and to-day, a special meeting of the Dairy Industry Council was held for the purpose of discussing the situation created by industrial developments and the action taken by the Government in issuing an Order-in-Council revoking the modification order of the Factories Act affecting creameries and dairy factories. In is the desire of the council to place on record their protest at the Government’s action in bringing down this order while negotiations were proceeding with ~ the workers in regard to wages and conditions under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. It is, to say the least, unusual and most undesirable that Government action should be taken whilst the negotiations are at a stage where matters are sub judice. “Unrest in Industry.”

“The Government’s action has caused great unrest within the industry. The Dairy Board and the council are receiving requests for the reconvening of the Dominion dairy conference for the purpose of asking the Government to place farmers and farm workers, in respect of labour reward, on the same basis of payment for Saturday, Sunday and holidays as has been granted to factory employees and other industrial workers" under the Government's 40-hour week policy. “Having recorded the Dairy Industry Council’s protest, it now remains for me, on behalf of the industry, to draw the Government’s attention to the effect of such action, which, when applied to dairy farm labour, will considerably increase costs beyond the basis provided in the price reached for the present season. It is therefore desired, in terms of the discussions' we had with the Stabilisation Commission, to reopen the question of the current season’s price. The Dairy Industry Council has appointed a committee in the hope that this matter can be discussed with the Government, so that the council may be in a position to make a recommendation to the Dominion conference.

“To this end, I have to advise that the committee will be available to meet yourself or your Ministers, or to have preliminary discussions with the Stabilisation Commission on dates and at times to be mutually agreed upon. “In view of the very considerable unrest within the industry, to which I have previously referred, it will be necessary for the Dairy Industry Council to intimate publicly that representations are being made on this matter, and further that it is proposed to hold a special Dominion dairy conference during the month of March.”