NO EARLY START

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24102, 22 October 1941, Page 8

NO EARLY START

REFUSAL BY MILKMEN

ORDER FROM MINISTER AUCKLAND UNION'S DECISION Although an order has been made by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, that summer deliveries of milk will be commenced in Auckland at 2 a.m. as from this morning, roundsmen in the city have decided that they will not start at that time. The decision was made at a meeting of the Auckland Milk .Roundsmen's Union yesterday. Apart from announcing that the men would not commence at o'clock this morning, the secretary of the union, Mr. J. Purtell, interviewed after the meeting, refused to make a statement at present. No comment on the decision was made by Mr. I. J. Goldstine, chairman of the" Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council, but lie stated that the entire question would be discussed by the council at its usual meeting on Friday. He said he had received a communication from the Minister in which a 2 a.m. start was ordered. The letter would be submitted to the council meeting. The Minister made an appeal for all parties to pull together. He revealed that it had been suggested by the industrial magistrate, Mr. J. A. Gilmour. who recently investigated the position in Auckland, that the starting time for deliveries in the winter should be 4 a.m. Consideration of any practical suggestions for the removal of any anomalies arising from an earlier start was promised bv the Minister. The fact that a 2 a.m. start was very early was appreciated by the Minister. However, when dealing with such a vital food product as milk, it was essential that it should be delivered in a fresh and wholesome condition. The Minister added that ho hoped that the parties concerned, while unable to agree among themselves as to a summer starting time, would agree that Mr. Gilmour had done his best to make a fair recommendation to meetpublic requirements. That recommendation was for a 2 a.m. start and a 7.30 a.m. finish, without extra gallouago being placed on roundsmen.