WAGES TOO LOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 6

WAGES TOO LOW

HIGH COUNTRY FARMING CONTENTION BY WORKERS’ UNION BETTER HOUSING REQUIRED Industrial Correspondent WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. Higher wages and better housing were essential if workers were to be attracted to high-country jobs, said Mr Carl Hair, general secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, giving evidence before the Royal Commission on the Sheep Industry. The union agreed that the plight of high-country farming was a national problem, said Mr Hair, but the individual worker could not be blamed if he selected the job that gave him the greatest economic return. Though some progress" had been made with wages and conditions, it could not be said that the wages at their best compared with those paid in other industries.

Every time the union .met the farmers they had taken the attitude that they had to keep farm workers generally to the minimum rate because of the position of the farmer on poor land. In the union’s opinion, this defeated attempts to attract men to the high country, for the farmer on good land was in a position to offer wages above the rates lixed in agreements.

Accommodation was a vital problem. The union had ample evidence of the attraction which good housing accommodation always offered. There was always a reasonably good response to offers of jobs for married couples where houses were provided. Mr Hair said that, in spite of the shortage of shearers, there was considerable reluctance among farmers to take on learners. The sheep owners organisation was keen that young men should be trained, but individual farmers did not often take the long view They wanted the wool off the backs of their sheep as quickly as possible, and often would not employ Further, said Mr Hair, a lot of shearing was done nowadays by contractors, who did not want to take on learners because they slowed down the rate of work. Answering questions, Mr Hair said that in general the union was opposed to the suggestion that extended hours for shearing should be allowed, though an extension had been made to permit some time to be made up on Saturdays. Sunday shearing was bitterly opposed, and had been illegal for 20 years. It was felt that extended hours would encourage the farmer not-to concern himself with the need to train more men. _____