TRANSPORT LICENSING ANOMALIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 15

TRANSPORT LICENSING ANOMALIES

CREAM TRANSPORT CONTRACTS (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON. Feb. 5. An important point relating to the cream cartage of dairy companies has been mentioned by Mr A. J. Sinclair, secretary-manager of the To Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd. "Licensing authorities are at present granting licences to cream contractors imposing conditions which are impossible where cream is collected seven days a week." he said. "It is a standing grievance in our industry that awards are made between employers and employees in related industries without any reference to us, although we are the people who pay. "A new lorry-drivers' award, retrospective as from December 21, has just come into force. Under the regulations, it is compulsory for a driver to take a complete day off each week, unless exemption is granted by the licensing authority and endorsed on the licence. The award states that where exemption is granted, the driver may work two half-days not exceeding four hours each. In many cases it is impossible for cream contractors in back country districts, travelling a route of 25 to 30 miles, to deliver cream to the factory under six hours. This difficulty has been recognised by the New Zealand Drivers' and Related Trades Industrial Union of Workers which has kindly agreed to a variation of the regulations provided the applicant applies for exemption from the exemption, and on condition that the driver is paid, over and above his ordinary wage, a penal rate of Is 6d per hour for the extra time. It is doubtful of 5 per cent, of the applicants are aware of this, and dairy companies generally are quite ignorant of the position." Mr Sinclair added that dairy companies were in a state of bewilderment as the result of some recent legislation. The Finance Adjustment Act of 1936, he said, had made it necessary for dairy companies to revise their cream contracts to provide for increased wages and other additional increases caused by the legislation of the past year. "It is quite clear, however," said Mr Sinclair,; " ihat ownerdrivers who hold cream contracts do not come under these provisions, and the onus rests entirely upon dairy companies to see that these contractors are treated equitably. The legislation of the past 12 months has affected dairy companies in so many directions that it appears almost essential the industry should retain a member of the legal profession to devote the whole of his time to the problems which now confront us."