HIGHER WAGES FOR FARM LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22516, 26 September 1938, Page 10

HIGHER WAGES FOR FARM LABOUR

Result of Conference AGREEMENT BETWEEN MINISTER AND FARMERS' UNION NEW PLYMOUTH, September 25. Wages increases for dairy farm labour for the 1938-39 season were agreed upon at a conference at Stratford on Saturday among the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong), Messrs W. J. Poison, M.P. (National, Stratford), H. E. Blyde (vice-president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union), and J. H. Furniss (a member of the Dominion executive of the Farmers' Union!). "The agreement, which provides for a money increase of 7s 6d a week for adult male workers," said a statement issued after the conference, "was arrived at after consideration had been given to the fact that in the Agricultural Workers Act, 1936, board allowance was fixed at 17s 6d a week, but since then no increase in board allowance had been made. Under the agreement existing between the Minister and the Farmers' Union the increase would have been 10s, but it was considered only reasonable that' the increase in the cost of board to farmers should be recognised. The rate now agreed upon will operate as from August 1, 1938, the .same date as the new season's guaranteed price came into operation. "Where the farmer provides board and lodging, the weekly rates, with those of last year in brackets, will be as follows: — "Workers under 17 years: £1 (18s 6d). 17 but under 18: £1 6s 6d (£1 4s). 18, but under 19: £1 13s (£1 9s). 19, but under 20: £1 19s 6d (£1 14s 6d). . 20, but under 21: £2 6s (£1 19s 6d). 21 years and upwards: £2 12s 6d (£2 ss). "Where, however, a worker makes his own provision for his keep, the above rates are increased by 2s 6d. "Employees who have changed their employment since August 1 will not. be entitled to ciaim retrospective payment except in regard to the period during which they have been employed by their present employer. "It should be clearly understood," the statement added, "that the agreement affects only those farm workers who are employed on farms on which not fewer than 10 cows are ordinarily kept, and from which milk or cream is sold or otherwise disposed of in the course of business. It does not apply to any other class of agricultural worker." The Minister emphasised that in many cases farmers were actually paying more than the rates agreed on at the conference.