DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1919, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS.

RURAL WORKERS CONDITIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 20, A deputation from the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union waited oil the Prime Minister this morning. The main request of the deputation was that steps should be taken to safeguard rural workers in the event of a further serious outbreak of influenza. Other requests were that farmers should be made to provide for temporary separate accommodation for Maori women, where Maoris are employed, instead of allowing them, as was the case at some stations, to be herded witfi inen, and that the Government should pass legislation on the lines of Mr Veitch's Workers' Accommodation BillIt was complained that the Labor Department had not compelled Canterbury threshing mill owners to provide the accommodation specified in the award of the Arbitration Court.

One speaker urged that farmers should at least be asked to have shearers' huts fumigated before the men arrived.

Mr Massey, in reply, said an amendment to the Act dealing with shearers' accommodation had been prepared, but the season was so near that legislation could not be waited for, therefore another way of dealing with the matter Would be necessary. He thought the request in regard to another possible further outbreak of inftenza quite reasonable and would have prepared a memorandum of the Health Department on the subject.