WOMEN ON FARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 19

WOMEN ON FARMS

QUESTION of payment CONFLICT OF OPINION STATEMENTS by minister Cj-ROM on! OWN coiuusi-onukntJ / HAMILTON, Friday i t conflict of opinion regarding the 'njpnt of women employed on farms vas disclosed at a meeting of the \Vaikato executive of the Farmers' Union to-day. The president, Mr. S. X. Ziman, stated that Mr. W. Slaughter, officer j D charge of the Labour Department's Auckland office, had ru ed that if a woman employee entered a milking g hed and did work of ary kind there, she must be paid the same wages as a niflle farm worker. Mr. Slaughter also ruled that if n farm hand did tho evening milking on any one day, that ( lav could not be regarded as his halfholiday • Mr..11. IL Feisst said the Minister of Labour, the Hon/ H. T. Armstrong, telegraphed yesterday stating that women had not been specifically referred to in the regulations governing farm workers, and that the payment of women milkers was a matter of arrangement between employer and employed. Mr. J. H. Furniss said that Mr. Annstrong had informed a Farmers' Union deputation that a married couple should bo paid £•'! 10s a week, with house allowance, provided tho woman did not do other farm work than milking. If a woman was employed solely on farm work, then, ot' course, she should be paid a farm worker's wages. .Mr. Furniss urged that the Minister's ruling should bo accepted in good faith. "He said tho Minister had stated that it was recognised that it was difficult to lay down hard and fast rules owing to the variation in the amount of actual farm work done by women. Mr. F. L. Onion said some farmers were dismissing married couples because they believed ther had to pay thum £6 a week. It was well to have the position clarified. Mr. Furniss said it was quite clear that a farmer's half-holiday must commence at noon and must not include the evening milking. If :io half-holiday were granted, a fortnight's additional annual holiday must bo allowed or full pay given in lieu of it.