FARM WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22543, 7 October 1936, Page 12

FARM WAGES

MARRIED COUPLES WIFE'S RATE OF PAY EXPLANATION BY MINISTEI! VARIATIONS IN CONDITIONS [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A statement clarifying the situation of the wives of dairy farm employees as they are affected by the provisions of the Agricultural Workers Act was made to-day bv the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong. He explained that from letters he had received it appeared that misunderstanding existed over the position and that the employment of married couples on farms might be prejudiced if the effect of the Act was not made clear. Mr. Armstrong said the Act laid down a minimum wage of £2 2s 6d a week in addition to board and lodging for a dairy farm worker. If free board and lodging were not provided tho worker was entitled to £3 a week. In many cases the worker would be married and he and his wife would be engaged as a married couple, with a free house and foodstuffs provided. The free house and foodstuffs in such cases were not regarded as free board and lodging under tho Act and could not be taken into account as part of the wages of the worker. The statutory wage and holidays provisions applied definitely to the husband, but not necessarily to the wife. Factors Governing Wages The Minister explained that the situation of the wife was governed by the nature of the work, if any, she was required to perform for the farmer. If she was engaged wholly on farm work she, too, was entitled to the statutory wago and holidays. If she performed in the main only domestic duties and merely assisted for brief periods each day in farm work, she should be paid in respect of the latter duties a due proportion of the statutory wage. It was admissible in computing the wife's payment of this proportion to take into account the rent value of the free house and the value of milk, butter, or anything else provided by the farmer. If the farm worker's wife was engaged only on domestic duties then she was not subject to the legislation and her remuneration was a matter for private arrangement with the employer. Request Made to Farmers "It is not desired by the Government in its endeavour to put the farm worker on a better footing to create difficulties in the way of the employment of married couples," Mr. Armstrong said. "Both employers and employees are recommended to submit to the nearest branch of the Labour Department particulars of cases in which they are concerned and which they think require individual consideration. Farmers are particularly requested not to terminate the engagement of married couples until they have made sure from the department that their own or their employees' estimate of new wages is correct. "Farmers need not fear that precipitate action will be taken by the department to institute proceedings and certainly no action will be taken while a farmer is awaiting the ruling of the department on a case submitted by him. The department will make every endeavour to meet each case reasonably as it recognises the wide variations in conditions that apply to farm employment of married couples."