N.Z. DAIRY WORKERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 275, 19 November 1937, Page 9

N.Z. DAIRY WORKERS

DOMINION AWARD SOUGHT

EVIDENCE BY EMPLOYERS [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, Nov. 18. Further evidence was heard in connection with the dairy workers’ application for a Dominion award. Forbes Herbert Anderson, director of the Cambridge Dairy Factory and chairman of the Auckland Dairy Employers’ Association, said that the demandg of the union were assessed at approximately £1,000,000. Ho said that at present the employing farmer had allotted to him under the guaranteed price an average income of £4 weekly, plus a free house. That was not a guaranteed income, but could be attained only under favourable conditions and working long hours. Compared with the present position of the first assistant in a factory with a wage of £5 3s 6d, the dairy farmer was not so favourably situated. The dairy farmer's reward under the guaranteed prices was what remained after meeting maintenance and interest charges on the farm and any increase in costs, whether wages or not, had to come out of that re.ward. “We submit that the dairy industry is unable to meet the increased demands,” said witness, “and cannot see why it should have to, considering that the Government has collaborated in fixing the wages of farm employees for this season at £2 ss, plus 17s 6d, making £3 2s 6d weekly for employees quite as capable as general hands in the dairy factories.” “I am not going to take any notice of this guaranteed price or negotiations between the farmer and the Government,” said Mr. Roberts, on rising to cross-examine. After lengthy questions about costs, Mr. Roberts asked whether the wages paid to factory hands ever the year were less than the basic wage. “I suppose they arc,” replied witness. William Yates Kirkman, factory superintendent for the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Hamilton, produced figures showing the increase in wages costs as a percentage and in money in various departments should the union’s claims be acceded to. The increases were: Butter, 102.25 per cent, or £113,502; cheese, 176.25 per cent., or £66,169; milk powder, 95.3 per cent or £19,073; condensed milk, 105.1 per cent, or £6590; (one factory); casein for drying station, 88.94 per cent or £10,811; casein creameries, £14,912. Witness added that the Dominion increase in the wages bill for the Dominion butter and cheese factories, compared with the 1935-36 season, would be £1,081,746. The Casein Industry.

Herbert Edward Pacey, managing director of Glaxo Laboratories (N.Z.) Limited and chairman of directors of the New Zealand Casein Company Limited, expressed an opinion that the Court should consider the precarious position c-f the casein industry. Returns to producers from this source had, in the past, varied to : n abnormal extent. “Increased costs of manufacturing the larger differential price allowed in favour of cheese over butter and the collapse of the Japanese market will deplete the returns to an extent which will seriously menace the casein industry,” witness added. He said that the German market had also declined to a marked degree. “There are in New Zealand to-day 35 casein precipitatio i stations,” witness continued. “I say, with a full sense of responsibility, that if the present demands are acceded to many of these wll cease casein precipitation. Indeed, even on to-day’s wages and costs some of these factories will be confronted with a difficulty.”

Witness said that the present system of classification worked admirably. It had been in operation for many years, and he saw no reason for it being altered.