SHORTAGE OF LABOUR MAY RESULT IN LESS BREAD FOR WEEK-ENDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27092, 28 May 1949, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR MAY RESULT IN LESS BREAD FOR WEEK-ENDS

Unless more labour is available < the production of bread in Dunedin for the week-ends may have to be reduced appreciably, declared a representative of the Otago Master Bakers’ Association to a Daily Times reporter yesterday. He emphasised that the labour position was never more desperate than it is now, and that it had been found impossible to get workers. “What the public does not appreciate,” he continued, “is that with-the 40-hour week, a baker is compelled to do three days’ work- in one. For the week-end baking, for instance, a start is made at 3 p.m. on Thursdays and another shift comes on duty at 2 a.m. The men have to work 12 hours, and they are quite exhausted at the end of that period. It is, therefore, impossible to ask them to do any more. < In addition, it was stated that work- ' ers are leaving the trade largely because they are finding the work too strenuous under present conditions. Two men recently left a large city firm and it was hopeless to try and replace them. Another factor that has increased the burdens on city f,; firms is the decision of two suburban bakeries to give up baking bread. Two of the largest city firms are in the process of installing new ovens which arrived a few weeks ago from England after a delay of about three years. When these ovens are working it will help to, ease the labour position a little, and may also increase production, but it will be, two months before they will be available. ■ In the meantime the' work of installing < the new plant has tended to reduce u production. Fears were expressed that there may v be a shortage of bread during the next • week-end owing to the holiday on the ? Monday. “At present I cannot see - how it will be possible to supply the public with bread for four days,” the ” baker said.