FARM WORKERS’ WAGES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23744, 16 September 1942, Page 6

FARM WORKERS’ WAGES

Sir,—ln reply to "A Married Farm Worker," Mr R. T. Bailey, of the Labour Department, states: 'Where a cottage was made available by the employer, a reasonable deduction for rent could be made.". This is contrary to general practice, and 1 can find no justification for Mr Baileys statement in the Agricultural Workers Act, 1936. It does say that ''No charge shall be made for board and lodging, and the 17s 6d (now increased to £1) payable to men living preferably at their own homes, and to married men provided with housing must be classed solely as a board allowance. It is inconceivable that the parties to the agreement-the Ministry of Agriculture, the Farmers' Union, and the New Zealand Workers' Union-intended married workers to pay for that which is free to single workers. If this, or any later agreement is so obscure that Mr Bailey's interpretation is tenable, redrafting is obviously necessary.— Yours, etc., ROBERTSON . Rakaia, September 9, 1942. [Mr R. T. Bailey replies: "In reply to the enclosed letter I have to advise that it is the responsibility of the employer of an agricultural worker to provide sufficient and suitable accommodation for such worker. Where the full cash wage is paid, including allowance for board and lodging, it is the practice to permit a charge at an agreed reasonable rate for accommodation and perquisites."] Sir,—l see in "The Press" to-day that agricultural workers, casual, over 21, not found, are entitled to 2s an hour, or 18s a day. I get a man to do odd jobs, cutting gorse and such like; he is between 50 and 60. Any ordinary youth would do far more. I had a man sowing lime. He had a youth filling the lime sower. The man I employ sometimes could not do it no matter how much he got. Am I to give him 6s a day more? I am a small farmer in my fifty-ninth year of age and can't keep a man constantly employed.—Yours, GtC SMALL FARMER. September 10, 1942. [The -fficer in charge of the Labour Department, Mr R. T. Bailey, says that "Small Farmer" will have to pay the rate stipulated unless he obtains an under-rate worker's permit.]