A BASIS FOR FARM WAGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 193, 15 August 1936, Page 8

A BASIS FOR FARM WAGES.

A good beginning has been made by the Government in its efforts to iihprove the lot of the farm labourer. The Bill introduced in the House yesterday provides a basis of payments, £2 2/6 a week and keep, which should represent a substantial increase to the lower paid workers on the farms, and should be within the capactiy of farmers to pay under the guaranteed price scheme. It is, of course, doubtful whether the rates will prove as attractive as those paid by the Government on public works, particularly when the difference in hours is taken into account, but there are compensatory benefits which syhould not be overlooked. A wise course was followed by the Minister in conferring with representatives of the farming industry during the preparation of the Bill. This has forestalled much criticism. Could the workers have been consulted, probably the Government would have ascertained their views also, but that was impossible. The omission is unimportant. Hitherto there has been no uniformity, and the Government has had to determine a basis not in relation to what has existed, but in conformity with entirely new conditions. One of the limitations applying is the level of farm incomes, which for a large section of the producers, the dairy farmers, is now fixed for a year ahead. Two points are to be noted —that agricultural labourers will not be brought under the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court, and their scale of wages will be unaffected by the basic wage to be determined by the Court. They are to be treated as a separate and independent group, and the enforcement of the law in theii interests will be entrusted to-special inspectors. The Minister has achieved a workable arrangement, and deserves the gratitude of both sides for his handling of the problem.