DAIRY FACTORY LABOUR SHORTAGE CAUSES CONCERN

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1947, Page 2

DAIRY FACTORY LABOUR SHORTAGE CAUSES CONCERN

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 13. Concern at the shortage of labour for dairy factories was expressed at the conference of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association. It was decided that a deputation should wait on the Minister of Agriculture (Mr E. L. Cullen) and the Minister of Labour (Mr A. McLagan) on the subject. The president of the association (Mr W. Linton) said he failed to see where labour for dairy factories was to come from. He did not think even the leaders of the industry realised how critical the position was. Mr J. Thompson said that of a staff of 23 in his factory there were only two who would be of use to the industry in the future. He moved that the association set up a committee to deal with the shortage of labour. Mr W. Fairbrother said that nonessential factories were advertising for thousands of workers. While the Government encouraged this policy, the dairy industry was condemned to death.

Mr T. Cross, manager of the dairy cool stores at Wellington, said that hundreds of men passed through his stores, but only stayed a few days. Workers today were looking for the easiest work and the most money.