FARM LABOUR PAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 7 October 1936, Page 11

FARM LABOUR PAY

MARRIED COUPLES PROVISIONS OF NFAV ACT MINISTER'S EXPLANATION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last, night. The Minister of Libour, the lion. 11. T. Armstrong, in an interview to-day, said that misunderstanding existed as to the effect of the Agricultural Workers’ Act upon the wives of dairy farm employees and the employment of married couples might be prejudiced if tiro matter were not- explained. The Act, lie said, laid down a, minimum wage of £2 2s Gd a week plus board and lodging lor a. dairy farm worker. If free hoard and lodging were not provided, he was entitled to £3 a week. In cases where a worker was carried and he and his wife were engaged as a married couple with a free house and foodstuffs, the free house and foodstuffs were not regarded as ‘free board and lodging” under the Act and could not be taken into account as part of the worker’s wages. The statutory wage and holidays applied definitely to the husband but not necessarily to a wife. • •

The situation of the wife was governed by the nature of her work, if any. foi the farmer. If she was engaged wholly on farm work, she, too. was entitled to the statutory wage and holidays. If she performed in the main only dnmesti; duties, and merely assisted at brief periods daily in farm work, she should be paid in respect of the latter duties in due proportion to the statutory wage. It was admissible, in computing a 'wife’s payment of this proportion, to take into account the rent value of the free house and tile value of anything else the farmer provided. Tf a wile were engaged on only domestic duties, she was not subject to the legislation. Employers and employees were recommended to submit to the nearest branch of the Labour Department particulars ol the cases in which they were concerned and which they consider would require tidividual consideration. Farmers particularly were requested lot to terminate the engagement of marled couples until they made sure from the department that their own or their employee’s estimate of the new wages due was a correct one. Farmers need not fear precipitate action by the department to institute proceedings- The dona rtment would endeavour to meet each case reasonably and was instructing the inspectors to treat each case on its iperits.