WORKERS AND HEALTHY CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 27 April 1917, Page 6

WORKERS AND HEALTHY CONDITIONS

In the past Governments and the Arbitration Court have deemed it inexpedient to impose upon rural occupations the same measure of legislative control as is placed: upon urban industries, which are not so subject to the arbitrary rule of the seasons and elements. Yet it would appear, from statements made to the Acting-Minister for Labour by. members of the . Agricultural, and .. Pastoral Workers' Conference, that this policy of non-interference has not been duly appreciated. A number of sheep-farmers are alleged to have failed to comply with the letter, much less the spirit, of one of the ' industrial enactments /affecting them. The deputation complained, and supported its complaint with ' specific instances^ that the accommodation provided for shearers was inadequate and unsatisfactory, even in some cases, it. was alleged, to. the extent of being a n%iace"to health. , The grievances have not yet been investigated, but that such complaints are made would indicate that all is not as it should be. The Shearers and Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act, 1908, imposes no heavy bur-

den upon the sheep-farmer, certainly none which could not be borne with ease in these times of high wool prices. It leaves much to the discretion of the inspector and 'the good sense of the employer. Briefly, its provisions are for the yearly inspection by a Government officer of every shearing-shed, "to see that proper and sufficient accommodation is provided . . . for the comfort and health of the shearers," and in any case where no provision is made, or where the provision made is deemed by the inspector to be inadequate, " he shall require the employer to provide, amend, or enlarge the same, in accordance with the requirements of this Act." "Proper and sufficient accommodation" as regards sleeping room is defined as meaning "not less than 240 cubic feet of air-space for ea«h shearer sleeping in any room or apartment (which room or apartment shall not in any case be the same as that in which meals are provided)." The Act does not apply to sheds employing less than six shearers. So, little being specifically required of them, some farmdfcs, according to the .shearers, havo not been disposed to enlarge the definition of proper and sufficient accommodation on their own account. There is even said to be some doubt as to whether the sheep-farmer or the shearing contractor is the party responsible (as employer) for; providing the accommodation. This latter question can be readily settled. For the other complaints, if more rigid inspection does not suffice and farmers do not learn the lesson voluntarily, there may be no remedy but drastic legislation, which, being made inelastic to meet the case of the culpable offender, may mean hardship in other instances. Apart altogether from this aspect of the question, sheep-farmers should remember that bad conditions attract bad workers—and make them worse. The willing and capable worker is now too much in demand to be troubled with an employer who can provide decent accommodatin" but will not.