FARM LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 285, 26 August 1908, Page 2

FARM LABOUR.

A LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER. The following is a copy of a' letter which has been forwarded by Mr. D. M'Laren to the Prime -Minister:— " I take this opportunity of writing you i with reference to the subject with which -1 this letter is headed. It is known to you \ that the workers of Canterbury engaged in ? the agricultural and pastoral industries have ; made ail honest appeal to the Arbitration Court for the. purpose of having their wages ! and other conc'litimis of employment fixed by ' a peaceful legal mode of procedure, and tha outcome of that appeal is reported by- the Press of the Dominion. The Court has refused to make an award, and practically affirmed-what you, sir, and'the Hon. the Minister for Labour have pledged that your Government would not allow, to obtain— namely, ' that the farm labourers bo excluded . from the operations of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act.' . Surely it is the bitterest kind of mockery to say that.these'workers are now receiving the benefits of the said Act. The Court has stated'in its-decision that 'if such-an award is mado the Court could not reasonably refuse to make similar awards ill other industrial districts, and what the Court has really to decide on the present application is whether it is necessary that the whole farming industry of the Dominion should be regulated under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.' This question, in the Court's mind, is now decided ill the negative, and the agricultural workers are completely shut out from any benefits under the law of the country. The Court, however, though it would hot make an award, was so possessed of the necessity for remedying the evils of low conditions which exist that it felt called upon to mako ' recommendations' —which may, or may not, be observed.- Altogether, I submit that'tho present situation of affairs discloses an urgent need for direct legislation in order to adequately protect the many thousands of farm hands in our country. Sir,. I trust that it is unnecessary for me to remind you that it is claimed by Ministors of the Crown, and others 'that tho industrial legislation', promoted by, successivo Liberal Governments has resulted in tho suppression of sweating conditions throughout iSew Zealand': still, such an assertion* can scarcely appear valid if a largo body of workers may continue to work at rates lower even' than are recommended by the Arbitration Court as being reasonable. It appears to me that when tho Court state 3 'that all day labourers who receive -only • a money payment for their services 'shall be paid not less than 7s. per day,-this should' nave some greater force behind it in law than mere recommendation, and if . tho Court cannot, or will not, supply tho force, then Parliament itself should supply the enactment required, with the force of the State behind it. "I am now, sir, appealing to you and to Parliament, through you, that a Bill bo brought down and passed into law as- speedily as possible to directly fix the minimum wages and conditions under which agricultural and pastoral workers may be emjpoyed. I would that it bo provided in said Bui: • " (1) That day labourers on farms bo paid not less than 7s. per day. . • " (2) That farm workers -employed, at harvesting be paid, such sums, "whether'by bonus, or otherwise, as will -make their weekly wago not less than 50s. per week. " (3) That each farm worker be allowed a half holiday on' one 'day of- the week. "(4) That each regulars farm worker shall bo allowed at least' one week's holiday.in tho year on full pay. . '"You will note that I am herein-simply asking that tho recommendations of the Court shall be given the true force of law. I desire to press that tho Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Minimum. "Wages and Conditions Bill shall also provide for a maximum number of hours work per day, and that the length of-such -daily period of toil bo very restricted in respect to the. hours of employment ■ of. children or -young; people. Sir, I think you wilL recognise,,. it. to bo somewhat of ,'a 'disgrace to'our?.country if provision cannot be,made whereby the great 'body of country workers can be adequately ' protected by full legal means. Already practically the whole of organised labour m New Zealand has .pleaded that these, countr'j workers should; have, tho protection .of ! th f Arbitration Act—which is now denied then. My appeal, then, is from the lower court - the 1 highest in tho land.' I am maki: this appeal personally, because I' have n. yet had time to consult the many labo unions, councils, and persons interested; 1I no shadow of doubt but that the cla herein mado on behalf of tho farm work- J "will bo endorsed by the whole of the labt " bodies, and, in addition, by'many thoiisar ■ of tho general public iii every part of i country. After tho long period of tin . which has been spent in the hearing of tho Canterbury case, and tho largo expenditure of both public -and private funds, 1 trust you 'Will see the urgency that exists for taking tho matter beyond where it now stands. If the alliance between Liberal and Labour interests, aspirations, and principles, which is said to govern the affairs of our country, has anything of reality about it. and is not merely for the workers of. our country a very bad dream, then I am satisfied that you, sir, with the aid of your colleagues, will take speedy steps to meet the wishes I am expressing in this appeal. ' "I take the liberty of further asking that you will kindly let me know,, as early as possible, what decision you arrive at. Tho grounds of justice upon which I urgo • the passage of a Bill during this present i session of the Houso are, I submit, so sound that I trust to have the pleasure of soon reading your reply that my. request has been acceded to."