HIGHER WAGES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23716, 14 August 1942, Page 4

HIGHER WAGES

FARM AND ORCHARD WORKERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 13. An increase of 12s 6d a week for certain agricultural workers of 21 years and over is prescribed in the Agricultural Workers Extension Order. 1942, gazetted to-night. - The order relates to wages and other conditions of employment of agricultural and pastoral workers employed on farms and stations used for the commercial production of wool, meat, or grain (including seed) other than those so employed who are covered by the provisions of an award or industrial agreement. The weekly rates'of wages prescribed are the same as the rates for agricultural workers on dairy farms. Besides the irfcrease for adult workers given above, the rates prescribed represent increases for workers under 21 ranging from 3s 6d a week for those under 17 to 11s a week for those aged 20. Where board and lodging are not provided by the employer, the wages are increased by £1 a week instead of 17s 6d. Th,e rates for casual workers represent an increase of 3d an hour. The increases apply as from August 1. Increases for orchard workers are also provided in an amendment gazetted to-night to the Agricultural Workers Extension Order, 1940. The principal weekly increases for agricultural workers in orchards are:—Permanent employees: Managers, ss; other adult male workers, 4s; youths, Is to ss. Casuals: Adult males, 2d an hour; adult females, |d an hour. The provisions of this amendment shall be deemed to have been in force since January 1. Another agricultural workers’ wage fixation order was also gazetted tonight. It fixes the minimum wages of dairy farm workers as follows:—Under 17, 225; 17 and under 18, 295; 18 but under 19, 365; 19 but under 20, 43s 6d; 20 but under 21, 50s 6d; 21 and upwards 57s 6d. For workers who are not provided with board and lodging the above-mentioned wages are increased by 2s 6d a week in addition to the amount prescribed in the act. The order became effective oh August 1,