WAGES ON FARMS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 27 March 1936, Page 6

WAGES ON FARMS

SPECIAL AGREEMENT FOR THE

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

A SLIDING SCALE

Special consideration is to be extended to the dairy industry in New Zealand by the Labour Government, says the "Dominion." An indication has already been given that the Government's guaranteed price scheme, for a start, at any rate, will apply only to dairy products. In addition to that, wages, hours and conditions of work for farm workers engaged in dairying are to be the subject of a special agreement. The matter was referred to by the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, who said that he had recently had conferences with representatives of the New Zealand Farmers' Union on the subject of farm wages. An agreement had been reached to fix wages and conditions of work for men employed on dairy farms. The dairy industry had been singled out for special attention, as it was to be the first to receive the benefit of guaranteed prices, but as yet he was not in a position to give details of the proposed agreements. From inquiries in other circles it appears that the Government considers that producers of wool and meat are not in need of such urgent assistance as the dairy farmer. The view is put forward that the dairy farmers as a class have demonstrated their efficiency by doubling their production during the last few years and at the same time withstanding the most disastrous price fall in New Zealand's history. A Bill giving effect to the Government's guaranteed price scheme for dairy farmers will be introduced comparatively early in the session and the inference to be drawn from the proposal to fix wages and conditions for dairy farm workers is that the Government is determined that they must share in the benefits. SLIDING WAGE SCALE. It is also stated that wages to be paid to workers on dairy farms under the proposed agreements will probably be fixed on a sliding scale, indicating that there is likely to be some elasticity in the guaranteed price scheme itself. It is expected that wages paid in other branches of farming and agriculture will probably move in sympathy with the rates fixed for dairy farm workers, and that the basic wage, which it is proposed to fix generally in the near future, will be another determining factor. In some quarters it has been suggested that the Government's special attention to dairying is likely to lead to a destruction of the balance between agricultural and pastoral activities. This point was referred to the Prime Minister, Hon. J. M. Savage, who gave an assurance that the Government fully appreciated the situation. Mr Savage admitted that in the opinion of many the dairy industry was already overcrowded and that difficulties might arise if other [producers were encouraged to turn their attention to dairying. However, the proposed measures for assisting dairy farmers were only part of a general policy of planned production and if difficulties arose steps | would immediately be taken to cope with them. MORTGAGE ASPECT. "We are going into the whole j question as thoroughly as possible," |Mr Savage added. "I have already pointed out that the mortgage aspect cannot be overlooked and although my views have met with strong criticism in some quarters, I am satisfied that the only solution to existing problems lies in a realisation of the mutual difficulties of mortgagors and mortgagees. If a farmer-mortgagor is an efficient farmer it is to the advantage of his mortgagee that he should be kept on his farm.. If the mortgagor is forced off, the mortgagee may find an inefficient farmer in his place." The problem should be tackled on the basis of the ability of the average farmer, Mr Savage concluded. In some cases the mortgagee might have to accept less, but if the present state of affairs was allowed to drift he would probably be in danger j of losing the whole of his equity. It was stupid to suggest that the Government's aim was the destruction of private mortgages. All its proposals were directed toward the bringing about of more equitable conditions than those that existed at present.