FARM WORKERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 65, 9 December 1937, Page 3

FARM WORKERS

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Bill Gives Legal Effect To Agreements

IR? Tploprv'.h

WELLINGTON Last Night. An extension of the Agricultural 'Workers Act to,farm work other than dairy xng is provided for in the amended lcgislation introduced by GoverxiorGeneral's message in the House of Representatives to-day. The Bill is concerned only with the validity of Orders-in-Council extending the provisions of the prixxcipal Act__and i.t is stated that, whore organisatxons of workers and employers are in agreement, extension orders may be issued to preseribe the conditions of employinent, in addition to those prescribed by the Act. The effect of the amendnient is to make the terms and conditions of all farm work legal and binding so long as they have been approved' by representatives of the employers and the workers concerned. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, said that arrange- • ments already had been entered into with Oorchardists and also with grain and sheepfarmers. The purpose of the Bill was to giv'e legal effect to the agreements, even if they differed slightly from conditions laid down in th principal Act for workers on dairy farms. All i'armtors desired the legislation in order that tliey might rxot be brought under the Arbitration Court. Tho Bill was read the first time.