PRICE OF MILK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22346, 18 February 1936, Page 12

PRICE OF MILK

INCREASE DEFERRED

WAGES OF ROUNDSMEN AGREEMENT NOT REACHED Following a decision of the Milk Council on Friday undertaking to increase the retail price of milk by up to id a quart on condition that vendors restored wages cuts to their employees, a Conciliation Council meeting was held yesterday between the parties concerned. Agreement could not be reached on all points, and the matter was deferred pending a meeting of the Milk Roundsmen's Union. As a result the increase in the price of milk will not operate in tho meantime. Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, presided at the meeting. The employers were represented by Mr. J. M. Eccles, Mr. R. B. Stonex and Mr. I, Massey, with Mr. W. E. Anderson, secretary of tho Employers' Association, ns advocate, and the employees by Mr. L. Ellison, Mr. 11. Bacon and Mr. S. Downing, with Mr. J. Purtell, secretary of the Milk Roundsmen's Union, as advocate.

Tho employees sought a six-day week, £4 6s for roundsmen delivering loose milk, £4 12s for thoso handling bottled milk, and 21 days' holiday on full pay. Tho present award provides for a sevenday week, wages of £3 17s 6d and £4 2s respectively, and 14 days' holiday. An offer of the wages and holiday claimed, if the seven-day week were retained and a reduction was made in tho 20 per cent commission payable to roundsmen delivering loose milk in excess of a specified quantity, was made by the employers. A six-day week would greatly increase costs.

Tho conditions laid down wcro not acceptable to the employees, who objected to any interference with the commission clause on the grounds that it had not been specified in the employers' counter-proposals. They maintained that they had been agitating for 15 months for the restoration of the 10 per cent cut and the introduction of the six-day week, and that it was on this basis thoy had approached tho Milk Council. It was decided that a full draft of the clauses agreed to, and the employers' offers regarding commission and reference to the Arbitration Court, be prepared for submission to a meeting of the Milk Roundsmen's Union. If the meeting decides that a settlement can be reached, it will institute fresh proceedings and a meeting of tho Conciliation Council will be held to deal with the matter.