New Minimum Conditions For Sharemilkers

Northern Advocate, 10 December 1937, Page 3

New Minimum Conditions For Sharemilkers

I Special To “Northern Advocate" 1 WELLINGTON. This Day. AS A RESULT OF CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN TO THE CONDI'JTONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SHARE-MILKERS, MINIMUM CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN AGREED UPON BETWEEN THE FARMERS’ AND WORKERS’ ORGANISATIONS. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, states that the legislation which is necessarv to give effect to this agreement is ready for introduction. but it will not. be possible to bring down the proposed Bill before the adjournment. “The Government hopes, however,” stales Mr Armstrong, “that where share-milkers’ agreements are not equal to the proposed minimum conditions, an alteration will be effected without waiting for legislation, whica will be dealt with at the earliest opportunity after Parliament unassembles.” The agreed conditions of employment where the farm-owner nrovidos the herd, are as follows: —

Payment Conditions

Before entering into any agreement, share-milkers shall have made available to them the previous year's figures of production.

Share-milkers whose duties comprise only milking, and care and feeding of stock, including pigs, shall receive not less than 25 per cent, of milk and cream cheques and deferred payments. Where he also does maintenance work he shall receive not less than 33 1-3 per cent, in either case, after deduction of cartage of cream and milk. He shall not contribute towards the payment of any shares, or receive any benefits from the share bonus unless otherwise mutually agreed upon.

Tlie share-milker shall receive half share the value of calves valued as grade, including bobby calves and pigs.

Calves and Figs

Calves for rearing to be valued during January or February as mutually agreed upon, the farm-owner to take over the calves as from that date.

Calves for rearing for replacement shall be limited to 25 per cent, of herd, and, if any of these are not retained for replacement purposes, the proceeds of their sale shall go to the farm-owner.

Both parties shall pay equally all costs of breeding sows and other pigs, including cost of supplementary feeding, cartage and commission. Lorry Running Costs.

Whore the farm-owner provides a motor lorry for the purpose of carting milk to the factory and for other farm purposes, the share-milkers shall pay one-third of the costs of upkeep, benzine, oil and running costs, including registration and licenses and 20 per cent, depreciation.

The share-milker shall pay power costs for power and water heating. The farm-owner shall have the right to determine the factory or company to be supplied, and whether milk or cream shall be supplied. Cost of seed and manure for supplementary and/or winter crops shall be borne by the farm-owner, and the work shall be done by the sharemilker.

Cost of manure for maintenance purposes, including cartage, shall be borne by the farm-owner. If parties desire additional manure, the extra cost shall be borne by them in the same proportion as milk and cream cheques are distributed, the sharemilker to apply it at the owner’s direction.

Hay-Making and Fences,

The hay-making and ensilage-mak-ing for the herd shall be done by the share-milker. The cost of any additional labour required for that purpose to be borne equally between the farm-owner and share-milker.

Fences, hedges and drains to be maintained in a satisfactory state df repair by the share-milker. New subdivision fences shall be erected by the share-milker, materials to be supplied by the farm-owner.

The farm-owner shall pay for all herd-testing, including herd-tester's board.

The share-milker shall bear his proportion of deductions in connection with the grading of milk and cream, except in case of neglect, when the share-milker shall bear the whole of such deductions.

Precautions Against Disease,

The farm-owner shall supply all medicines, etc., for health of stock, to bo used by the share-milker as directed. Tire share-milker shall take all necessary precautions to prevent disease in the herd, and, in case of disease. shall notify the farm-owner immediately, but shall not be held responsible for disease or replacements of stock rendered necessary owing to disease, etc., but due to no neglect or fault of the share-milker.

No additional .stock, except replacement stock, including sheep, shall be grazed on milking paddocks used by the share-milker, except by mutual consent, and all culls shall be removed from milking paddocks within a reasonable time.

When payments Must be Made

The share-milker's share of the cheque shall be paid by the farmer direct into the share-milker's banking account, or direct to the share-milker, accompanied by a copy of the monthly statement in either case, settlement to be made within three days of receipt of the money by the farm-owner. All moneys due to the share-milker from pigs sold in the farm-owner’s name by I lie share-milker shall be paid over to the share-milker by the 25th of the month following the sale of same.

No share-milker shall be allowed to employ any female in the shed, except with the consent of the farmowner.

The share-milker having to supply horses, waggons and cans, or any part of same, shall receive such additional annual amount as shall bo agreed upon to the value of the equipment, as at the commencement of (he contract, but in no case loss than 10 per cent, of such amount to be paid in equal monthly instalments.

lu the Event of Dispute

The farm-owner shall decide when (ho cows arc to be dried off.

In the event of a dispute arising out; of the terms of I lie contract, each party shall appoint an arbitrator who shall decide, but. in the event of their being unable to agree, they shall appoint a third party whose decision shall be final.

There shall be no reduction during the period of the contract of the area available to the herd, e.xccpt by mutual agreement.