DAIRY FACTORY WAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20768, 10 January 1931, Page 11

DAIRY FACTORY WAGES.

SUGGESTED REDUCTION. POSITION IN TARANAKI. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday. The award governing the employment of dairy factory hands in Taranaki will expire at the end' of February, and it is believed that a move will be made to secure a reduction in wages when the agreement comes before the Arbitration Court..

Mr. J. S. McKay, president of the Taranaki Federation of Dairy Factory Employers, said the question had not yet come before the federation. Tn view of the low prices for dairy produce, he believed that a general reduction of wages would have to come. It is learned from another source that some companies have already formulated a scale of reductions, ranging from 12s to 28s 6d a week. This would mean a weekly wage of £3 9s for the lowest-paid workers within the scope of the award and £4 8s 6d for first assistants. Managers, secretaries and certain other classes of employees do not come under the Act, and in a large number of cases their wages and 'salaries have already been reduced by from 10 to 15 per cent. The employees claim that their wages are not too high for the work done. In view of the reductions already made, it is considered by the companies that the Court would be justified in reducing the award rates.