SHAREMILKING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 45, 4 November 1946, Page 5

SHAREMILKING

EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION MEETING

SOUTH AUCKLAND BRANCH

The second annual general meeting of the South Auckland Branch of New Zealand Sharemilkers Employers' Association was held in Morrinsville recently, delegates being present from Morrinsville, Te Awamutu, Hamilton, Rangitaiki Plains, Cambridge, Taupiri, Otorohanga, Matamata, Hauraki Plains and Pukekohe Sub-Branches. Mr. A. H. Coombs (Springdale), chairman, reported that membership in the original sub-branches had been maintained and new sub-branches had been formed. Some alterations t© the Sharemilking Agi-eements Order, 1944, deemed necessary by the South Auckland Branch Committee had been approved and were written into the 1946 Agreement Order. Following the recommendation of the Arbitration Court, the Minister of Labour had approved increases in the sharemilkers'jjercentage .payments from 36 2-3 per cent, to 39 per cent, from 27£ per cent, to 29 per cent. . .

Mr. Coombe drew the attention of members to the fact that although the Court had recommended the increases to take effect as from Ist July, 1946, the Minister had directed that the new rates would apply to payments for butterfat supplied as from and including 4th September, 1946, as set out in the Sharemilking Agreements Order, 1946. This Order (applicable where the farm-owner supplies the herd) was now, in two parts—Part (1) applying in eases where the sharemilker's duties comprise only care and feeding of stock and milking for which the sharemilker receives 29 per cent, of milk and cream cheques, and Part (2) applying where the sharemilker's duties comprise milking, care and feeding of stocky and farm maintenance work for which the sharemilker receives a 39 per cent, i share.

Referring to the • Arbitration Court's recommendation that the 50 per cent, basis contract should be brought within the. scope of the Sharemilking Agreements Act, Mr. Coombe said that a strong protest had been made to the Minister against the adoption of 'a standard contract and as a result the Minister stated that there would be no change this season in the terms of existing 50/50 contracts. Owing to the fact that sharemilking was fast losing its popularity amongst farm-owners alterations to the constitution had been approved at sub-branch annual general meetings, to extend membership to include dairy farm-owners employing labour where provision is made for payment of a bonus based on a butterfat production. On the motion of Messrs. W. Harbutt (Cambridge), and Stuart C. Spence (Whakatane), the. alterations to the Rules placed before the meeting giving effect to this were , proved.The meeting supported the opinion expressed by Mr. P. F. Leonard (Hauraki Plains) that every endeavour should be made to ensure completion of any further negotiations on the Sharemilking Agreements Order, by Ist March prior to the season in which the alterations are to take effect. It was decided to conduct a drive for membership, delegates present expressing disappointment that many employers were content to accept the benefits resulting from the Association's activities without giivng financial support* Mr. W. N. Perry (Cambridge) reported that organisation in the Manawatu was progressing and a strong branch was in course of formation. The steps necessary for the setting up of an autonomous section of this class of employers within the-Dairy Section of Federated Farmers (Inc.) should soon be finalised. The subscription payable to Federated Farmers (Inc.) would not cover the activities of the Sharemilkers Emplayers' Association and it was visualised that a separate subscription would continue to be necessaiy and the Association would function on lines similar to the present organisation.

Mr T. J. Ryan (Morrinsville) was re-appointed Auditor. At a committee meeting held subsequently, Mr. A. H. Coombe was re-appointed chairman and Mr. F. E. Harris (Walton) was re-appointed deputy-chairman, while Messrs A. H. Coombe, F. E. Harris, W: N. Perry and R. T. Davis (Otorohanga) were re-elected branch delegates to frhe New Zealand Executive.