HALF HOLIDAY FOR FARM WORKERS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21907, 7 October 1936, Page 13

HALF HOLIDAY FOR FARM WORKERS

VO mfc EI'iTUM or tilß PRidS Sir —ln reading “The Press” one day last week I noticed an answer to ‘•pTowboy’’ stating that Mr Balley, of the Labour Department, said that it »8 law for all agricultural workers to receive erne half-day a weak, Btoppmg work at 12 o’cl , no specified day mentioned. Then we get the -answer from the secretary if the bneep owners’ Union through * The Press, stating that there was no statutory obligation for a half-holiday for agricultural workers other than .hose encaged in dairy farming. If ever there was a crossword puzzle,to solve 1 this is the daddy of them all. I- have tried to solve it, but have given it up, so I shall ask you if youcould oblige me with the correct solution, hoping there are no alternatives.— Yours, etc., PUZZLE. September 30. 1936.

TO TEOB SBITOB OF THB PBZB6. Sir,—l am following all the news in the newspapers regarding conditions on B farms, and there is no doubt a man gets bogged trying to tollow. As lam nnl of These farm labourer# living m, ■hopel should like some questions answered. Mr Bailey says agricultural workers are °of iirdav half-holiday. Mr Nicholson., or the Sheep Owners’ Union, says that j Q : rv fom workers or© the only ones *t preSS? Sit he forgets ptoughnwn who have tofeed and look aftertheir carding farms other than farmsgMr Brown, placementofflcer. wys paid are only half what la paid . public work* 70 to'Bo farm labourer has £ he^ rk an 7 d ° ee n few extm Inlings agtdnst^ l ' JgyHgjfJJ 1 n £ticed Thi aftsws for farm

workers of all classes at £1 to £1 10a a week-Yours, etc., LIVING IN HOPE.

October 3, 1030.

[When the above letters were; referred to Mr Bailey, he said: The provisions of the Agricultural Workers Act state that a worker employed on a dairy farm for not less than four weeks continuously shall be allowed seven days’ holiday for every 12 weeks of employment, and a proportionate amount for broken periods. The holidays are to be allowed when the employer thinks fit, and the total amount during the year Is not to exceed 28 days. At the termination of employment, the holidays due are to be allowed. If an employee is allowed a weekly half-holiday from 12 noon, an extra holiday of 14 days a year is sufficient, and a proportionate amount for broken periods of employment. The provisions also state that payment of wages at the same rate as for working time shall be made before the commencement of holidays of more than three days. This is to include an allowance for board and lodging of not less than 8s 0d a week. It will be seen that there is no provision for a compulsory half-day, and that only dairy farm workers are referred to. A dairy farm is defined as one where dairying is the chief concern, and where 10 or more cows are milked. Casual labour is not affected.”]