FARM WORKERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 August 1939, Page 9

FARM WORKERS

MUSTERERS AND DRIVERS’ AWARD FULL AGREEMENT REACHED. WAGES & CONDITIONS OF WOR.K (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Full agreement was reached in the Conciliation Council, Wellington yesterday on the application of the New Zealand Workers’ Union for a new award covering the Dominion musteiers, drovers and packers, and South Island snow rakers. The parties'agreed that it was impossible to regulate working hours in the industry, and added an extra amount to the rates provided under the 1931 award in order to meet the requirements of the industry. The award relating to wages was deemed to have come into force on August 1, and other conditions on the day the award was made by the Court of Arbitration. Musterers will be paid not less than £4 15s a week, if engaged by the week, and not less than £1 a day, if engaged by the day. Musterers engaged by the week receive an additional payment of £1 for any Sunday on which they are required to do any mustering, and those engaged by the day.will be paid for all days from the date of their commencing work till the completion of the period of employment. A musterer engaged by the day will receive the daily rate for any Sunday on which he is required to do mustering. Packers employed in connection with mustering will be paid not less than £4 a week, if engaged by the week, and not less than 17s 6d a day, if engaged by the day. Packers engaged by the week will receive an additional payment of 17s 6d for any Sunday on which they are required to shift camp. Youths may be employed to learn mustering at not less than the following rates, in addition to their board and lodging: First year, £1 12s 6d a week; second year, £2 ss; and threeafter, the full adult wage. Drovers are to be paid not less than £1 8s a day, not found, and any necessary expenses incurred on behalf of the employer shall be refunded. Any drover required to travel more than 28 miles in any one day. either to lift stock or to return at the end of a drive, will be paid at the rate of Is a mile for each mile over 28, in addition to his daily rate of pay. Any drover required to travel more than 12 miles to lift stock, or return more than 12 miles after delivery of stock, will receive Is a mile for every mile or part thereof beyond the 12 miles travelled. When drovers are engaged on short drives, the following rates apply: For the first hour or part thereof ss, and foi' each additional hour or part thereof, up to five hours, 4s an hour. All drives occupying more than five hours shall be paid for at the full daily rate of pay, time to be taken from the lifting of the stock till delivery at its destination. Drovers in the North Island, when engaged on a casual daily basis to muster stock, will be paid the drovers’ daily rate, but when rations and accommodation are provided by the employer, the rate shall be reduced by 4s a day.