Tors Peerson

Tors Peerson was born in 1888, but his death is unknown as records cannot be found. He was the grandson of Thomas Peerson (born c. 1822 in Aberdeen, Scotland), who emigrated to South Australia aboard the barque British Sovereign, arriving at Adelaide in July 1847.
Tors Peerson as a 30 year old started working for Fred Walker in 1918 as a storeman in the manufacturing of foodstuffs in South Melbourne Victoria. One of these products was Bonox.
In 1923 Walker and Peerson along with a chemist named Cyril Callister developed a yeast extract under the name of Vegemite.
In 1924 an arrangement to keep the business from going under Walker combined with a new partner James Lewis Kraft to manufacture cheese in Melbourne. The business became the Kraft Walker Cheese Company.
Walker had the drive and energy to run the company but lacked the skills of communicating to his workers. Under the guidance of Walker, Peerson established a worker's social club in 1927. Morning tea breaks commenced in 1928. A modest canteen and first aid facilities soon followed.
Walker and Peerson's introduction in 1932 of the Bedaux System of the time and motion studies was based on the wish to make warehousing work less arduous. As a scientifically designed work systems increased productivity, bonuses paid to warehouse workers rose and jobs in companies were keenly sought.

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