FARMERS COMPLAIN OF WAGE INEQUALITY

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1947, Page 6

FARMERS COMPLAIN OF WAGE INEQUALITY

-Press Association

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, August I. A deplorable state of inequality wa1, stated to have been reaehed in the inonetary rewards reeeived by those iii the farming industry eompared witin those reeeived by other sections of the eommunity when the matter was diseussed at the Dominioii^ponference of Federated Farmers last liight. ,A motion passed stated that wliereas it was impossible to curtail hours of vvork to 10 on a farm, or to work a t'arm economically on .costs based on a 40-hour week, it was unfair to penalise a section of the eommunity that re!'used on humanitarian grounds to use tlie strike weapon to demand sueh monetary reward for its work as othei sections of the eommunity weri' •ible to demand through use of that weapon. The farmer and farm worker who produced the countrv's basie wealth had been expeeted to work long hours, and labour during week-ends and holi days without coinpensation, whilc olhers had reduced their hours ot work, increased their labour reward and eollected premium rates of pay for work extending beyond the live-day .veek. Except wliere it could be shown that more production would result fron. reduced hours, the Government wa; •■equested by the conference to restori : he ccouomic balance between primary lnd sccoiidary industry in New Zealan.i -o that those engaged in the agricut.arai uiul pastoral industry shouid .•eccive pavment for their work on ;i •jasis of goods produced. This paymeni diould be arrived at taking into con •ideration the hours of work and costs mvolved in producing such goods, bear- • -ng in mind that it was uneeonomic tc. work a farm on costs based on a 40lour week.