MILK DELIVERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24103, 23 October 1941, Page 11

MILK DELIVERY

NEW STARTING HOUR ORDER NOT OBSERVED COMPROMISE TIME SUGGESTED The order issued by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, that the delivery of milk should commence daily at 2 a.m., was disregarded by the milk roundsmen yesterday, when the order became operative. In accordance with a decision reached at a meeting ot the Milk Union on Tuesday the members adhered to the former starting time of 3 a.m. The union secretary, Mr. J. Purtell. stated yesterday that the men were prepared to commence work at 2.30 a.m. provided the same gallonage was allowed and front gate delivery was sanctioned. The men contended that if this was arranged there would be a speeding up of the delivery by one and a-half hours. Numerous conferences had been held and the roundsmen felt that too many outside organisations had interfered in the matter. Organisations which had no conception of the work of milk delivery had advocated an earlier start irrespective of the merits or demerits of the roundsmen's case. One of the chief objections to the earlier start was that it would rob the men of practically all social life in the evenings. A 2 a.m. start would involve the men rising at about 1 a.m. Those who opposed a front gate delivery had to be reminded that a similar scheme operated in Wellington, continued Mr. Purtell. The whole matter ought to be considered dispassionately in the interests of the men. who had to work in all weathers and had a strenuous job. Regarding the suggestion that milk was tainted on account of late delivery, he said roundsmen and small vendors had stated they had not been receiving complaints. The union did not deny the possibility of complaints and sonic of the milk being tainted as it would be ridiculous to suggest that no complaints would be received in the delivery of 20,000 gallons of milk. Although the Minister of Labour was in Auckland yesterday, no representations in connection with the dispute were received by him. When interviewed shortly before leaving on his return to Wellington last night, Mr. Webh said lie had not been approached by either the milk council or the union.