ON THE LAND

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19892, 22 May 1936, Page 4

ON THE LAND

FARM MANAGER PLAN/

DISCUSSION AT TE AWAMUTU. REPORT FROM COMMITTEE. (Times Representative.) TE AWAMUTU, Thursday. The report of the auto-committee set up at the last meeting of the Te Awamutu branch of the Farmers Union to investigate a plan to provide relieving farm managers in cases of emergency was read by Mr D. H. Cavers at a meeting of the executive of the Te Awamutu branch to-day. Mr A. T. Bryant presided. The report on the farm-manager scheme, which created a great deal of interest, stated that the •committee had gone carefully into the matter, and although many difficulties had appeared, the committee had provided measures whereby they could toe overcome, and had come to the conclusion that the scheme is a practical one, provided the major -safeguards were approved.

During their deliberations the committee had gone further into the question of farm labour, and had decided to place toefore the executive not only a scheme governing the appointment of relieving farm managers, but also a more comprehensive scheme dealing with all classes of farm labour. The report, in which it was suggested that any plan approved should toe forwarded to the Auckland conference, stated:

“That a labour committee be set up within the executive, together with a labour secretary, to carry out the work in connection with this scheme.

“ That this scheme should be confined to union members, and a union member should only toe considered eligible to obtain the services of the manager when he has been a member of the union for at least three months.

“That all union members who wish to come under the scheme should pay a subscription of £1 for the first year, thus ensuring that a fund be established whereby the union would be enabled to guarantee the full-time wages of the manager appointed. “ That representations be made to the provincial union for funds to assist this scheme.

“ All members of the group who subscribe to this fund would have preference of a manager’s services. The only time a manager’s services would toe available outside the group would be when his services were not required toy group members for any purpose. Any member outside the group who obtained the services of the manager in case of sickness or otherwise would be required to pay full rates. “ All group members would, in case of sickness or accident, receive the services of the manager at half rates for a maximum period of three weeks. This would toe the maximum period of I service unless the manager's services were not required elsewhere; but further service in this case would be at full rates. All group members who require the manager’s services for purposes other than sickness or accident would toe required to pay full rates. “ That all who require the manager’s services in case of sickness or accident be obliged to furnish the labour secretary with a doctor’s certificate or notification by a doctor. “ That toefore a union member be accepted as a group member be should satisfy the labour committee of his general state of health. The travelling expenses of the manager toe paid by each member requiring his services.

“ Your committee recommends that under this scheme one permanent relieving manager be appointed at a wage 20 per cent above standard rates, the union guaranteeing managers fulltime salary.

‘ A further three casual managers, preferably resident In different districts, whose services would be available at all times when required, should be appointed, at the same weekly wage as the permanent manager, tout no payment be made for stand-down time. “All cases of sickness or accident within the group would have preference over other applicants.” Farm Labour. The alternative scheme of farm labour was as follows: “ Under this scheme the labour committee and secretary would have charge of the scheme, and would report monthly to the executive. “ Un<ler t!li s scheme one full-time relieving manager only would be appointed; the conditions laid down previously and re-pa*ynient and conditions would remain as stated. " Ali members wishing to come under this scheme would be required a subscription of 10s. “In this scheme the provincial unions would also be asked for flnancial assistance. .J' Tha i, a , FaPm Lal >°hr Bureau be set up, the labour secretary to advertise for all farm labour seeking emwnnfu™ 1 ’ all Sr ol '? members would make known their labour rerrements to the labour secretary. , , an enl J>loyees' and employegister be kept by the secretary and a record would thus bo kept of ali iabour employed through the union All employers to notify iho secrechsmissod' 1 ““ e “ ,ployeo ,|e ™ «is "here an employee has been mrn'f 1 ,; ne l lllclent by ">0 labour com? ofr* h„ t ‘ T rl ? yee should be struck uir trie union books. Ibat the labour committee endeavour to see that conditions offered slanda,d P yer ° f *“h the" bihnL a i h T' est ,ime approaches me labour secretary advertise for har\tsteis, and the executive fix rale nt uf »-o.i and tlx £sjaws &. °rr lees be required lu make arrange e m with group members lo ensure I hat as tar as possible labour is cominuaiKemployed. mumuaiij work ll n„!! ar / eSle, ' s uill be required to such work is offering ' mcmbc, ' s ""en emp ™ at a / c e of ss'he charged every sasSwS® !‘z at any "uie there be a sui plus of farm labour offering it Ly be made available members’ of Urn union outside iho group, at a' higher " Thc funds raised by (his means

after covering costs to be used to supplement the l’arni manager scheme.” Reports Discussed. Mr C. J. Pierce -congratulated the committee for the report and staled that the only trouble might be to collect the £1 per annum. The plan was not identical with the Women’s Division of tiie Farmers’ Union housekeeping scheme. Owing to the difficulty -of transferring managers over any great distance the scheme would be a regional plan. Mr E. Wilson suggested publication of the report so that it -could be discussed fully at a later meeting. Mr Crawley said that at least 200 members would toe necessary to get the scheme under way. Mr W. Hodgson said that it was not -really a farm manager that was needed. What was wanted was assistance on the farms. The farmer might not agree to have a manager altering the usual run of the work. The scheme depended to a great degree on a guarantee of efficient labour. At present there was a real dearth -of competent farm hands. In reply to Mr Hodgson Mr Cavers said that the report was only a foundation on which thc scheme could be built. It would make competent and reliable men more readily available to the fanners. Mr Pierce said that the men used in the scheme -could not toe expected to keep moving around with their wives and families all the time. The expense would be 100 great and the man would have to be kept within easy distance of ills home. Also liie union would have to pay wages to the men employed during “dead” lime. For that reason the scheme would he a regional one. Another point was that most men likely to he of use as farm managers would prefer to commence farming on llieir own account. With Te Awamutu as the headquarters each farmer would find accomodation for the man he employed, the mail's ■wife and family remaining in Te Awamutu. Mr Wilson said the object of the scheme should be at first lo build up in reserve on what Iho scheme could work. A lot would depend on the the proposal and also the ihvancial side would have to be considered. The scheme should shirt with one fulltime man, preferably a farmer's son. Auckland conference should ho ‘asked to appoint a committee lo investigate the scheme.. Following a considerable mil of discussion, especially the linancial aspect, Mr Cavers said lli.il an alternative scheme had been provided. The ■plan would bo such as lo provide workers for farmers who wished lo have a holiday or were incapacitated. It was decided that tihe branch's delegates to Hie provincial conference should be instructed to support the ■sub-committee’s report al the cont'er-