Produce Growers Form an Association^

Franklin Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 119, 12 October 1936, Page 5

Produce Growers Form an Association^

TO LINK WITH AUCKLAND.

EFFECT OF RECENT LEGISLATION.

HIGHER WAGES FOR EMPLOYEES

A decision to form an association and to affiliate with the Auckland Commercial Gardeners’ Society, Limited, was reached at a well attended meeting of Pukekohe produce growers held in Mr G. Gathercole’s barn, Pukekohe Tiill, on Thursday evening. The president of the Franklin Onion Growers’ Association, Mr P. A. Miller, presided, and welcomed Mr H. Empson (president), Mr A. A. Currey (vicepresident) and Mr C. R. Reader (secretary) of the Auckland Commercial Gardeners’ organisation. Mr Empson emphasised the necessity of growers linking up with one association for the Auckland province, so that they could speak with one voice when national questions affect' ing the welfare of the growers came up for consideration. The need for one such organisation would be apparent in the near future.

One Organisation Essential. Mr Currey detailed the steps taken by' growers in the southern centres to organise and referred to the benefits so far derived. He supported Mr Erripson’s advocacy of one big organisation for the Auckland province and pointed out that since the Auckland association had been registered there was no' alternative but for growers in the province to become associated with the registered body. Mr Currey mentioned that market garden labourers had formed an industrial union and if its members desired an award they would have to cite a Dominion association of employers. Therefore it was most essential for the growers to be Thoroughly organised so that they could speak with one voice lor the Dominion. The Auckland area extended from Whangarei to Hamilton and one central organisation would control that district. Sub associations could be formed in the various districts and much good work could be done by them. He added that he had information about the claims to be made by the Auckland Garden Labourers’ Industrial Union of Workers, and doubtless these would soon be served on the employers. The workers were asking for a 44-hours week while the scale of wages ranged from £4 6s. a week for male adult workers to 17s 6d per week for youths under 16 years of age, and for females up to £3 6s a week. The rate of pay being asked for casuals was 2s an hour for males and Is lid for females.

A voice: What, Is lid an hour for Maori woifcm? (Laughter). & Mr Currey: Yes, that is what is being asked. A voice: Why, at that rate the workers will soon own the farms. That Is more than we make. (Laughter). All* Currey proceeded and said that on contract work strawberry pickers were asking lor 3d per chip, tomato pickers 2Jd per tin, pea pickers 2s 3d per sugar bag and potato diggers Is per sugar hag: weeding, hoeing and thinning. Gd per 5 chains. Golf course and racecourse workers weVe asking for £4 a week. The holidays asked for included nine statutory holi-

days on full pay, and after 12 months employment, 14 days on full pay. Two days—Anzac day and Anniver-

sary day—had been overlooked, which meant 14 days plus 11 days—four weeks holiday in 52 weeks. In cases where the worker was employed for less than 12 months the holidays were to be allowed on a pro rata basis.

When employing men, preference had to be given to unionists, and the term of the award being asked was for a

year. Mr Currey strongly emphasisv ed the point that the workers joined

one union and spoke with one voice,

and therefore it behoved the employers to do likewise and become one ‘ body. The claims of the workers would probably go before the Conciliation council and if an agreement could not be reached they would go before the Arbitration Court.

Conditions Changing. “We growers have got to recognise that conditions have changed, and are still changing. We must reconcile „ ourselves to the position, pay higher wages, give more holidays and in the end hope that we will be able to foot the bill,” concluded Mr Currey. Mr Reader outlined the procedurebeing adopted by the association to induce growers to link up, and also gave a resume of the rules of the association. He pointed out that there? was an agitation for compulsory registration of those who sold any kind of produce and if this came about prn- ■ duce merchants would not accept produce unless it was from a registered grower. This was a splendid idea and one which was welcomed by the Government because with the 40-hour week 1 in some industries, employees had two clear days on their hands and already some of them had leased land and had commenced the growing of certain commodities. If this state of affairs was allowed ' markets would soon be glutted. The Government desired to avoid this, hence the desire for t compulsory registration. This

would give the authorities a chance to check up on those who were taking advantage of their leisure hours brought about by legislation, to compete with those legitimately engaged in primary production.

Growers’ Hours.

The question was raised about producers having to work long hours in v order to make ends meet to which Mr

Reader replied: Why should we growers work from daylight to dark to provide cheap food for those who work only 40 hours a week? A member: Stop the proprietors from working after certain hours. A question was-asked concerning the farmer who milked cows and also engaged in cropping. Gould he employ a man under the dairy farm regulations and pay him the rate of wages set down under the dairy farm workers award and also ask ■ him to work in the market garden? As far as the payment of wages was concerned it was pointed out that such an employee would have to receive payment under the award which provided for the higher rate.

Questions were asked about essential work on Sundays, and it was pointed out that the only essential work on Sundays was the spraying of potatoes on a fine Sunday when the previous days were wet and precluded such work from being undertaken.

“What about the cutting of cauliflowers and the picking of peas?” asked a questioner. Mr Empson said that in the Avondale district, produce such as cauliflowers and peas for the Auckland market on Monday, was harvested on Saturday and it was found that it arrived in good condition. A local grower said that he had seen peas exhibited for sale which had been picked a week previously, and in his opinion the picking a day earlier would not make much difference. Circulation of a Questionaire.

Mr Reader pointed out that a questionaire was being sent to members asking them for their opinions about wages and essential Sunday work, and when they were returned the information would be dissected and data compiled for future use. He appealed to growers to be expeditious in dealing with the questionaire because the information was required,at the earliest.

The visitors, who were accorded a hearty vote of thanks then departed. The meeting then resolved to form an association and to affiliate with the Auckland Commercial Gardeners’ Society, Limited. The proposal was carried unanimously on condition that the local branch receiygd direct representation on the central executive.

The following officers were elected: President, Mr R. W. Bilkey; vice-presi-dent, Mr M. McDougall; secretary and treasurer, Mr E. J. Campbell; executive committee, Messrs J. W. McMiken, T. Balle, C. H. Mason, G. Gathercole and G. McMiken (Patumahoe). The subscription was fixed at £l, half of which is to be paid to the parent body for administration expenses, and other incidentals.

When the question of subscriptions was under discussion it was pointed out that, the unionists paid an entrance fee of 5s and a weekly amount of 6d, yet in some cases employers who had more at slake than employees protested against paying even an emount less than that paid by the employee.