RURAL LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 178, 17 April 1918, Page 8

RURAL LABOUR

I AN AUSTRALIAN MOVE. I Sydney files state: —"A movement is j afoot to secure the representation of I primary producers on tho Board of I Trado to bo appointed under the new j 'Arbitration Act. The producing in- ! terests have strong claims in this con- : nection, seeing that the board will be ': called upon to deal with important mat- !' .ters affecting the primary industries, j, and a member with a practical grasp of •!, rural conditions would strengthen the !.. board, as well ns do much to inspire r' the confidence of those engaged iii the j; agrarian industries. It will devolve , upon the Board of Trade to fix a living !. wage for all perso.ns employed in rural J industries, and to decide what shall i be allowed for board or residence or ■ board and residence. When the new j Act comes, into force the rates of pay i- in the rural industries will be based £ upon the determined living wage, and f any payment over and above that i standard, likewise also working hours I and conditions, will be a matter for • mutual arrangement between employer } and employee. The rural industries j will no longer come within the jurisdic- ; tion of the Arbitration Courts or be j the subject of awards as to rates of j r>ay and working conditions. While ! this removes the bugbear that has for ;'• several years threatened employers of • rural labour, it leaves the question of ; a living wage to be decided by the i. board. That will determine minimum : . wages, and to thnt extent it will no '• longer be left to the discretion of the '•■ employer to make his own bargain with ; the workers he engages. Obviously, : therefore, it would be a decided advani ■ tagej' if hot an actual necessity, for '■ the board to include a member with n I sound, practical knowledge of the con- j ditions of primary production. The . matter of organisation of producers to : meet the new situation brought about i - by the latest legislation, is hardly less \ important than it was- when the pos- ; sibility or probability of an industrial j ' ■ award hung over their heads. They j • have under the altered* conditions to ; present, their side of the case when the time comes for the Board of Trade to ~ take evidence in the matter of the living wage and the matters incidental ' -thereto. It is just as essential that ' ■ the board should have every upportun- . ■ ity to decide this question on its ac- ; • tual merits from the employers' point , of view as it is that the workers should '" have reasonable and equitable consider- ;' ation." .. . , . .'•