DAIRY FARM WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22498, 15 August 1936, Page 15

DAIRY FARM WAGES

Special inspectors may be appointed as officers of the Public Service under the legislation and in addition all inspectors of factories will have similar powers. They will have full rights of entry to any land or premises and the penalty for obstructing an inspector is fixed at a fine of £2O.

The provisions regarding accommodation for agricultural workers may be modified by an inspector if accommodation already ill use conforms approximately to the standard prescribed, or if ho is satisfied that it would bo impracticable to provide the facilities outlined. Modifications granted in this maimer may be revoked at any time by the Minister of Labour. It suitable accommodation is not provided by an employer an inspector may give him notice to remedy the matter within a reasonable time. The employer has the right of appeal to a magistrate, which must bo exercised within 14 days of receipt of the notice, although this right will not apply in cases where an inspector, acting on the advice of a medical officer of health, advises that the requirements are urgently needed for the protection of health of workers.

If an employer fails to comply with the terms of an inspector's notice, or with the decision of a magistrate in the case of an appeal, he will bo liable to a fine of £25, with a further penalty of £2 for every day during which the failure continues. Position of Share-milkers

The requirements regarding accommodation will not apply in cases whore workers occupy their own homes within reasonable distance of their place of employment. If a worker resides in a house owned or leased by his employer other than the latter's private residence, further accommodation must be provided in accordance with regulations to be issued under the legislation. The accommodation provided for married and single men can be varied by regulations. Share-milkers and all persons employed by share-milkers in the performance of contracts are to be deemed to bo employed as agricultural workers by the person letting the contract to the share-milker. This provision will have effect with regard to accommodation, but the share-milker himself will bo required to pay to workers by him the minimum rates prescribed for workers on dairy farms. Miscellaneous Clauses

The whole of the legislation is to be administered by the Labour Department and among miscellaneous provisions it is stated that any person who commits a breach of the law for which there is no specific penalty will be liable to a fine of £lO. If there is a continuing breach a further fine of £lO for every day may be imposed. Proceedings for offences are to be taken summarily by an inspector, and heard before a magistrate alone. There is the usual power for the making of regulations to give effect to the provisions of the bill.

As a result of the consolidating nature of the legislation the bill repeals the Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act, 1908, and the amending Act of 1912, but all appointments, regulations, Orders-in-Council and notices made under the earlier Acts are to continue in force. VIEWS OF FARMERS "GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE" PROVISION OF LABOUR "The wages stipulated in the Agricultural Workers Bill will, I think, be acceptable to farmers generally, but I am afraid that they will not be high enough to attract farm labour, compared with other wages," said Mr. H. 0. Mellsop, president of the Auckland Farmers' Union, yesterday. "They will, however, be the highest the farmers can pay under the guaranteed price." An agreement was reached between the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, and the New Zealand Farmers' Union, by which wages were to be increased ,by 5s a week from 22s 6d for every halfpenny the guaranteed prico was above lid, Mr. Mellsop continued. Thus, with the guaranteed price at Is Id, the wage of £2 2s 6d and found was as agreod. "The Minister has given an undertaking to provide farm labour at those wages," he added. "He said it would be one of the Government's first considerations, as farming was an essential industry."

The proprietor of an employment agency in Auckland said that the wages stipulated were about level with those being paid already in many instances, or a little higher. Before the guaranteed price was announced, wages offered through his agency for farmhands ranged from £2 to £2 7s 6d a week, but since the announcement there had been a slight reduction in the wages farmers were prepared to pay. NO SURPRISE IN WAIKATO "SCALE QUITE REASONABLE" [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Friday The announcement of the Government's decision regarding the scale of wages to be paid to farm workers caused no surprise in the Waikato, while the figures are not in excess of the average wages that are already being paid. Many farmers are paying £2 5s a week and found for good men. Men of little experience and ability have had no difficulty in obtaining farm jobs at £2 a week and found owing to the general shortage that exists of trained farm workers. "I think the scale is quite reasonable and is what the farmers expected." said Mr. S. N. Ziman, president of the Waikato executive of the Farmers' Union, to-day. Mr. Ziman added that no one could complain that £'2 2« M and .found was not a. reasonable wage for a single man of 21 with experience, but the question was whether the industry could stand that rate of pay on top of other rising costs. However, that question could not be answered until the season had advanced some distance and the farmer could gaugrt what his actual receipts and expenditure were.

SCALE FIXED

ADULTS 42/6 A WEEK HOLIDAY PROVISIONS employment of children restrictions in bill [by telegraph—special reporter] V ELLINGTON, Friday Minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment for workers on dairy farms are laid down in the Agricultural Workers Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by Governor-General's Message to-day. The bill also deals generally with accommodation, which must be provided for all agricultural: workers, and in this respect replaces former legislation. The conditions applicable to dairy farms embody the terms of an agreement reached some time ago between representatives of the Farmers' Union and the Minister -of Labour, the Hon. H T. Armstrong, acting on behalf of the Government. The main features of this part of the. legislation, which will operate during the present dairy season, are as follows: Prohibition of employment of children under the ago of 15 years. Minimum Rates lor Youths Minimum commencing wage of 17s <kl a week for workers under 17 years of nge, increasing by annual increments of os. so that the minimum rate for a worker aged 21 years or over will be £2 2* Gd a week, the minimum rates to be inclusive of boa,rd and lodging. Where board and lodging is not provided by the employer the minimum fates are to be increased by 17s 6d a neek.

One week's holiday to be allowed for every 12 weeks of employment and to bo paid for at the minimum rate, plus one-half of the allowance for board and lodging. The legislation is to apply only to irorkcrs on dairy farms, where 10 or more cows are ordinarily kept. TIIO provisions of the bill are to come into jforeft on October 1 this year.

Parmer's Family Exempt

The prohibition of the employment of children under 15 years is modified to some extent by the restriction of the relevant section to those engaged for hire or reward. This has the effect of exempting members of a farmer's family.. In connection with the minimum #rale of wages the first annual increase of os is to be made only when the worker passes the age of 17. The scale will operate until July 31 next year, and may then be varied by Order-in-Council, although no reduction jn the minimum rates is to be permitted. , In the fixing of the scale of wages for future seasons it is provided that the guaranteed prices for dairy products must be taken into consideration. It is expressly. stated that no charge for board and lodging provided for agricultural workers on dairy farms is to be made by an employer. However, if board and lodging is not provided the minimum rates of pay in every case are to be increased by 1/s 6d a week. No deduction from wages is to be made for time lost by a worker unless the time is lost by reason of his default, illness or accident. Section Covering Holidays Provision is also made for permits for under-rate workers. An inspector of factories or an inspector appointad under the legislation must be satisfied in every case that the worker concerned is incapable by reason of infirmity arising from old age or other causes of earning the prescribed minimum rates. - The "section dealing with holidays states that every worker employed on a dairy farm for not less than four weeks continuously is to be allowed by his employer :seven days' holiday in the aggregate for every 12 weeks of emplovmnnt and a holiday of a proportionate part of a week for every broken period of employment. Holidays are to be allowed at times to suit the convenience of the employer, but at least 28 days must be allowed each year of employment. If a worker's employment is terminated he must be allowed all holidays to which he is then entitled. Before the commencement of a holiday _ of more than three days the prescribed holiday pay is to be given in advance. Wages Book to be Kept

The normal wage payments to dairy farm workers must be made monthly or at shorter intervals and on every dairy farm where there is one or more agricultural worker employed a wages and holiday book must be kept by the employer.

The'entries in the book will comprise the following:—Name of the worker end his age if under 21; the days on which the worker has actually been employed; wages paid on each pay day. together with the date and the period to which the payment relates; days on which holidays are allowed and the amount and date of holiday pay. Each entry has H be sighed by the worker concerned and his signature will operate as a receipt for payment. The wages and holiday book, or any «uch book used within the last two years, is to be ooen to inspection by any inspector under the legislation. Any worker who. fails to sign an entry or who wilfully signs an incorrect record is to be liable to a fine of ~o arid any employer making default in the full payment of wages is to be liable to a fine of -Is for every day of default. Workers' Accommodation

If an inspector, is satisfied that default in payment has been made he may take civil proceedings against the employer on behalf, of tlie worker concerned for the recovery of the amount due. In the event of default being made a s a result of misrepresentations by tho worker 110 proceedings can be taken. A special part of the bill deals with the question of accommodation for all agricultural workers who are defined as persons employed for any period exceedlng one week in any agricultural, pastoral, saw-milling or flnxmilling work The term does not include a shearer within the meaning" of the Shearers' Accommodation Act, 15)19. All employer is defined as any person in control of °r superintending any farm or other place where an agricultural worker is e mploved.

. Every employer is charged with providing suitable and sufficient accommodation for all agricultural workers m his employ. The details of accommodation "to be provided are as follows:—Where two or more persons are to be accommodated sleeping quarters w "st be separate from dining quarters; a sufficient supply of furniffure and necessary utensils and drinking and Washing water and suitable lighting, floating, ventilation and sanitation must be provided; sleeping quarters must contain not less than 500 cubic mot of air space for every person accommodated.

Suitable provision must be made for tho storing of meat and other perishable goods. Arrangements must be made for the dr. ying of clothes and suitable first aid appliances must be prodded.