FARM WORKERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 28 March 1936, Page 2

FARM WORKERS

MINIMUM WAGES FOR BOYS FORTY-HOUR WEEK NOT TO APPLY HOLIDAY CONCESSIONS ON FULL PAY PROPOSALS BY MINISTER OF LABOUR (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. Besides considering labour laws aiteeting employees in manufacturing industries the Minister of Labour,_ the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, also considered the position of the farm worker. Although details of his proposals in the latter case have not yet been disclosed it is understood that the Minister lias approached ilie problem with a plan to establishing minimum wages for various classes of workers in farming pursuits, beginning with bov workers and going forward to cover single men and married men with families. It is understood that Mr Armstrong intends to dispose finally of cheap labour by establishing a minimum wage for boys at somewhere about 17s 6d a week with keep, and lie proposes to advance the scale according to experience and family responsibility to a point that workers will be paid at a rate making it worth their while to stay in agriculture. The Minister appreciates the difficulty as to hours in farming and it is understood that lie has no intention of applying the 40 hour week to dairying. It is possible that lie will make provision for holiday concessions on full pay in consideration of the special circumstances of farm labour.