FARMERS AND 40-HOUR WEEK

Chronicle (Levin), 7 May 1947, Page 3

FARMERS AND 40-HOUR WEEK

The opinion that farmers should insist upon being paid for their produce on the basis of a 40-hour week and holidays even if it ineant brealcing stabilisation, was expressed by Mr. Lloyd Hammond and Mr. H. J. McLeavey, at the Palmerston North ward conf'erence of the New Zealand Dairy Board yesterday. This was a cpiestion being asked by farmers all over the country, said Mr. Hammond. The Government itself had already set a precedence^by brealcing stabilisation in respect of the dairy factory .workers. "It would break stabilisation, and woulcl probably ruin the country temporarily, but if such is the case, it proves that New Zealand is living beyond its means," said Mr. McLeavey. "We have becn the Cinderella industry all the way through the piece, and now we should insist that we be placed on the same basis as secondary industries, or even better, on the basis of the wharf labourers who worlc only 20 hours a week. We should receive a return for our labours op. the basis of Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and overtime. " Mr. W. E. Hale, chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, said that it was perhaps desirable not to stress this matter at the present time, and the discussion was taken no further.