THE DELIVERY OF MILK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25849, 21 May 1945, Page 6

THE DELIVERY OF MILK

Sir,—l read with interest in your paper the letter signed “ Dictatorship,” who asks what the position of consumers is if he refuses to place his milk can at the gate. I could certainly say: "No can, no milk. In 20 years’ experience of milk delivery, from boyhood, I had to spend three hours every morning on a milk delivery Cart, and had spent two hours before that in the milk shed, and on finishing delivery I went straight to school. The first customers sometimes left their billies out—oftener they did not. I had to wait till they got up and put the billy out, and often had to wait till they washed it. This happened in quite a few cases, with the result that the last customers complained about late delivery. Others complained because I mad; too much noise and woke them up on a Sunday or holiday. They forgot that, a boy of 14, I had done half a day’s work by this time. These same people were often out half the night at picture shows, dances, etc., and went to bed when they should be getting up. On Sundays and holidays thev could stop in bed all day if they wished: yet I had to keep going seven days a week, hail, rain, or snow, I was hard as nails, and it never did me a bit of harm.

We might have a better race if a few of the rising generation had to do the same to-day. They might be able to walk out to the gate with their milk billies. It is high time the milk or dairy farmers got a little consideration in view of tbs hours and conditions under which they work. “ Dictatorship ” mentions the great boon ahd labour-saver tha zoning system is. This was a Government measure, yet the same Government is driving people out of production and business everv day. Youths of 20 will now get £ll‘l6s 6d for 5G hours (4s 23d per hour). Who pays this but the dairy farmer, who is allowed £5 10s a week for seven days’ work a week and no overtime. Is it anv wonder that dairy factories are closing down? I say it is not before time that the milk vendor and dairy farmer received more consideration. “ Dictatorship ” would certainly find, If I was his supplier, that if there was no can there would be no milk, and by the account of the sales of dairy cows that are reported in papers not far from Dunedin, “ Dictatorship ’’ will be very lucky if he gets milk—can or no can—before this winter is over. Last year I reduced my herd, and this year I intend keeping two cows for household use. Who is going to slave to pay these factory wages? i employed three men. but now have none, and find I am better off at the end

of the vear. Ido what I can and let the rest of the work go. It is not only the rate of wages but the class of labour one has to put up with to-day that affects the farmer. We hear the cry - production ’’ irom every corner. What about tnc miners’' high wages, and yet we cannot get coal. A hall is built for them free of interest at a cost of £(10tl0, and Mataura freezing workers go idle over a bit of a schoolboy’s squabble.—l am, etc Still Hardy.