Wives of Dairy Farm Workers

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 237, 7 October 1936, Page 4

Wives of Dairy Farm Workers

MINISTER’S STATEMENT.

Per Pres 3 Association, WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Minister of Labour Holu. H. T. Armstrong) in an interview to-day said a misunderstanding existed as to the effect of tho Agricultural Workers Act upou tho wives of dairy farm employees aud the employment of married couples might bo prejudiced if the matter was not explained. The Act laid down a minimum wage of £2 2s 6d per week plus board and lodging for a dairy farm worker. _r free board and lodging were not provided he was entitled to £3 per week. In cases where a worker was married and ho and his wife were engaged ns a married couple with a free house and foodstuffs the free house and foodstuffs were not regarded as “free board and lodging” under the Act aud could not be taken into account as part of the workers’ wages.

The statutory wage and holidays applied definitely to tiio husband and not necessarily to tho wife. Tho situation of the wife was governed by the nature of the work, if any, for the farmer. If she was engaged wholly on farm work she too was entitled to tho statutory wage and holidays. .If she performed in the main only domestic- duties and merely assisted ior brief periods daily in farm work she could bo paid in respect to the latter duties a duo proportion of the statutory wage. It was admissible iu computing the wife's payment of this proportion to take into account the rent value of tho free house aud the value of anything else the farmer provided. If,the wife were engaged on only domestic duties she was not subject to the legislation. Employers and employees were recommended to submit to the nearest branch of the Labour Department the particulars of the cases in which they weie concerned and which they considered required individual consideration. Farmers were particularly requested not to terminate the engagement of married

couples until they made sure from flic Department that their own or their employees’ estimate of the now wages duo was the correct one. Farmers need not fear precipitate action by the Department to institute proceedings. The Department would endeavour to meet each caso reasonably and was instructing inspectors to treat each case on its merits.