HIGHER WAGES

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

HIGHER WAGES

RESTORING THE CUT DAIRY FACTORY STAFFS ( EMPLOYERS' RECOMMENDATION [BY TELEGRAPH OWN COIIRF.SPONDEN-T] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday A recommendation to the Taranaki Dairy Factory directorates to increase the wages of factory workers by restoring 75 per cent of tho last 10 per cent cut has been made by the Taranaki Dairying and Fanning Industrial Union of Employers. It is also recommended that this part restoration of the cut should be made retrospective to July 1, 1935, the opening of the current dairy season. It is understood that most, if not all, of the dairy factories in Taranaki are likely to carry the recommendation into effect.

Interviewed after the meeting the president, Mr. J. S. McKay, said the decision was the outcome of a promise made by the employers at a meeting in November that if the prevailing price of butter-fat was maintained or increased, the question of improving the factory workers' wages would again be considered at the February meeting. Prices had held, and the employers accordingly made their decision. As far as he knew, said Mr. McKay, the union represented all the factories in Taranaki, and accordingly it was likely that the recommended increase would bo made general. In fact, he understood, some factories had already made the increase and a number of others was merely waiting for a lead from the employers' union. Tho increase, continued Mr. McKay, would apply to all employees who came under the award. In the case of managers and branch managers it was recommended that their salaries should be raised 1\ per cent. Factory workers' wages were reduced during the depression years by two cuts of 10 per cent each.