FARM WAGES INCREASE?

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4567, 10 November 1937, Page 2

FARM WAGES INCREASE?

GUARANTEED PRICE BASE.

WELLINGTON DISCUSSION.

NO DECISION YET MADE.

Although no advice has yet been received from the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, it is expected that <a new and higher scale of wages for agricultural workers will shortly be introduced. According to the Act wages do not necessarily vary in proportion to the increase in the guaranteed price but the Act makes provision that the guaranteed price is one consideration by which the new scale will be fixed. A conference is at present being held in Wellington with dairy workers' representatives to consider questions relating to working conditions and wages. The farm labour wages question is

the subject of a number of inquiries by correspondents to the Taranaki Daily News..

"R.J.G.," Hawera, asks whether a farm hand has to take the holidays on full pay at the end of 12 months or whenever suitable to the farmer, and whether he can draw a week's extra wages plus half his board every three months. He also asks what is counted as a half-day off, and what is a full day off.

Another correspondent, "Wondering," asks if an employer may take off 17s 6d a week for every week's holiday given at the end of the year.

Question of Holidays.

All holidays are to be given at the discretion of the employer, it was stated yesterday, and in the event of any holidays of three days being given the employer shall pay wages for the holidays at the same rate as the employee is earning, plus allowance in respect to board and lodging at not less than half the usual rates

for such allowances. The half-day for agricultural workers is from noon onwards, and a whole day holidaymeans that no work is to be undertaken by the farm hand on that day. If time off between milkings should be allowed any worker, it does not count as any allowance against the holidays. "Labourer" asks: (a) Is there a standard wage for day workers on a sheep farm, and if so what is it? (b) Is there an inspector?

If by "day workers" is meant "casual workers" the rates are as follows: Harvesters, 2s an hour with rations; other workers, Is 8d an hour if "found" and 2s an hour if not "found." By the day, 13s 4d a day if found .and 16s a day if not found; youths up to 18 years, Is an hour if found and Is 3d an hour if not found; 8s a day if found and 10s a day if not found. There is no inspector, but information can always be obtained from the Department of Labour.