FARM LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1936, Page 4

FARM LABOUR

POSITION CLARIFIED

DAIRY WORKERS' WIVES

In view of the misunderstanding that appears to exist as to the effect of the Agricultural Workers' Act upon the wives of dairy farm employees, the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) has issued a statement clarifying the position. .

"The Act lays down a minimum wage of £2 2s 6d:per week plus board and lodging for a dairy farm worker," said the Minister. "If free board and lodging are not provided he is entitled to £3 a week. In many cases the worker is married, and he; and his wife are engaged as a married couple, with a free house and foodstuffs provided. The free house and foodstuffs in such cases are not regarded as 'free board and lodging' under the Act and cannot be taken into account as part of the worker's wages. • The statutory wage and holidays apply definitely to the husband, but not necessarily to the wife. ' ;

i "The situation of. the wife is governed by the nature of the work, if any, she is required to.perform for the farmer. If she is engaged wholly on farm work,she, too, is entitled to the statutory wage and holidays. If she performs in the main only domestic duties and merely assists for brief periods each day in farm work she should be paid in respect of the latter duties a due proportion of the statutory wage. It is admissible, in computing the wife's payment of this proportion, to take into account the rent ivalue of the free house, and the value of milk, butter, or anything, else provided by the farmer. ■If the farm worker's wife is engaged on only domestic duties/then she is not subject to the legislation, and her remuneration is a matter for private arrangement with the employer. "It is not desired by the. Government, in its endeavour to put the farm worker on a better footing, to create difficulties in the way of the employment of married couples; and both employers and employees are recommended to submit to the nearest branch of the Labour Department particulars- of cases in- which they are concerned, and which they consider require individual consideration. Farmers are particularly requested not to terminate the engagement of married couples until .they have made sure from the Department; that their own or their employees' estimate of new wages.due is a-correct one. Farmers need: hot fear that precipitate action will be taken by the Department to institute proceedings, and- certainly no action would be taken while a farmer was awaiting the Department's ruling on a case submitted by him. The Department will use every endeavour to meet each case. reasonably, and is instructing its inspectors to . treat each case on its.merits, as,it recognises, the wide variations in conditions that apply to farm engagements of married couples." ~ . ■•''■',.-.