SHAREMILKER EMPLOYERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 98, 24 February 1947, Page 3

SHAREMILKER EMPLOYERS

FIFTY-FIFTY CONTRACTS MINISTER’S REQUEST A meeting of the South Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Sharemilkers Employers Association was held in Morrinsville on 13th inst., Mr A. H. Coombe (Springdale) presiding oven delegates from Morrinsville, Matamata, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Otorohanga, Taupiri and Hauraki Plains Sub-branches.

Discussion took place on a letter forwarded by the Minister of Labour to the Chairman of Employers of 50/50 Sharemilkers Section, Federated Farmers N.Z. (Inc.). The Minister stated that a request had been made to him by the New Zealand Workers Union on behalf of 50/50 sharemilkers to convene a conference between representatives of the two organisations in an endeavour to reach agreement on conditions which should be laid down for 50/50 sharemilkers under the Sharemilking Agreement Act as recommended to the Government by the Court of Arbitration. The Minister asked for the views of the Sharemilkers Employers organisation on the subject.

The chairman reported that when representatives of the two organisations had met prior to the Arbitration Court proceedings, the employer’s representatives had declined to discuss this class of contract and accordingly the preliminary point as to whether standard conditions should be laid down by Order in Council under the Sharemilking Agreement Act, had been submitted to the Court of Arbitration.

Mr Perry expressed the opinion that if the employers’ representatives still declined to discuss terms with the sharemilkers’ representatives the Minister might by Order in Council adopt the standard contract previously prepared by the sharemilkers providing for payment of 60 per cent, to sharemilkers and 40 per cent, to employers.

Mr Watkins (Matamata) stated that if the 50/50 sharemilkers became aware that many would lose their jobs if conditions were altered, would make representations to the Minister asking that no alteration be made.

Mr M. A. Carter (Hauraki) said that the majority of “third” and “quarter” sharemilkers considered that by the forcing of increased percentages the sharemilkers in those classes had not. gained but lost, as so many had been deprived of their sharemilking positions. He thought that if the 60/40 basis were adopted at least half these sharemilkers would lose their jobs and the country would lose anything up to 50 per cent, of the present production on those farms.

Mr Hicks (Hauraki Plains) agreed that any interference with the present basis would be detrimental to the industry in view of good prices prevailing for beef and sheep.

Other opinions expressed were that the 50/50 - sharemilker was not an employee but an owner providing capital and that conditions on farms were so divergent that it was not possible to have a standard contract to cover all conditions on all farms and its adoption with any increased percentage to the sharemilkers would result in hei’ds going out of production. The housing position would be seriously disturbed and sharemilkers would have to make grazing arrangements for their herds. It was considered that the New Zealand Workers Union represented only a very small proportion of sharemilkers.

The meeting resolved to re-affirm a decision made previously not to enter into negotiations for the purpose of arranging conditions for a standard contract for this class of sharemilking and to forward this resolution to the parent body with a recommendation that the Minister of Labour be advised accordingly.