TEA ON FARMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20958, 4 December 1942, Page 6

TEA ON FARMS

POSITION OF WIVES DISSATISFACTION CAUSED The attempt of the Rationing Controller to extend to farm workers the concession of extra rations for morning and afternoon tea, which was first made available to factory, shop and ofiice workers and employees bn construction works, is not apparently giving complete satisfaction, says the Auckland Herald. The intention of the concession was to enable people who work away from their homes to have a cup of tea at work without bringing tea and sugar from home I with them, and provision was made j foi the issue of permits to groups of workers. When the concession was extended !to farms it was. announced that permits would be assued on behalf of farmers, permanent and casual fulltime employees, children of 14 and over working full time, and wives working full time. Farmers’ wives not engaged full time on farm work were excluded because their inclusion would have given every housewife in the Dominion an equal claim to the concession. Kqual Hours of Work The differentiation between wives who work full time and those who do not has caused great dissatisfaction in dairy farming areas. It is contended that a wife who spends several hours on actual farm work, in addition to her household duties, is working just as long hours as her husband or a hired employee and should be equally eligible for the extra, tea and sugar. The secretary-manager of the Te Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Company, Mr. A. J. Sinclair, stated that the Rationing Controller had involved the dairy companies in a serious tangle. On the basis of information supplied, his company had issued to suppliers on September 14 a circular stating that permits for extra rations were nvadabb. b”t that formers’ wives were totally excluded. Subsequent newspaper statements had made it appear that wives working full time were eligible. As a result, an extremely confused position had arisen, and the dairy companies were having great difficulty in pacifying their suppliers. Gilbcrtian Situation Mr. Sinclair stated that, on the assumption that suppliers’ wives were to be included, it was desired to increase the number of permits applied for from 861 in the current Quarter to 1323 for the next quarter. So far no acknowledgment had been received.

“It would appear from the conIroller’s ruling,’’ said Mr, Sincltar, “that if a farmer’s wife goes into the shed twice a day and spends a few hours daily feeding calves and pigs, but stoutly refuses to cook a meal or make a bed in the house, she will qualify for the permit. Gilbert and Sullivan never thought of anything comparable to this.” Representations have beep made to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, asking for a clarification of the position..