FARM WAGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 260, 1 October 1936, Page 6

FARM WAGES.

NEW ACT IN OPERATION. To-day, the Agricultural Workers Act, 1936, comes into force. This Act applies to workers employed on dairy farms only, a dairy farm being defined as one where dairying is the principal concern and where ten ot more cows are milked. The Act applies equally, whether labour is employed by farm owners or sharemilkers.

The wages to he paid are . 17s 6d weekly, under 17 years. 22s Gd weekly, 17-13 years. 27s Gd weekly, 13-19 years. 32s Gd weekly, 19-20 years. 37s 6d weekly, 20-21 years. 42s Gd weekly, 21 and over. Female workers are to receive tlie same rates as youths, and men of equivalent age. Where hoard and lodging is not provided 17s Gd weekly shall lie added to these wages. A holiday of one month, at a time convenient to the employer, on full pay, plus half the lodging allowance, is due to a worker for each year’s service, or may be given as one* week at the expiration of each three months’ service. Where a half-day off work is allowed weekly the holiday clause has been amended to provide that a two weeks’ holiday will he due the employee yearly, instead of one month’s holiday. The Act covers persons employed for any period exceeding one week. Casual labour is not affected. Thus there is no regulation governing casual workers employed on dairy farms for hay-making, fencing, draining, cropping work, etc. There are no clauses governing hours of work, whether of weekly paid employees or casuals. Regulations provide, however, for the accommodation of employees.