AGRICULTURAL WORKERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19503, 9 December 1937, Page 20

AGRICULTURAL WORKERS

'EXTENSION OF ACT LEGALISING. AGREEMENTS (Per Proßa Association.) , . WELLINGTON, last night 'An extension of the Agricultural Workers' Act to farm work other than dairying, is provided for in the amended legislation introduced by Governor-General's message in the House of Representatives to-day. The bill is concerned only with the validity of Orders-in-Council extend ing the provisions of the principal Act, and it is stated that where organisations of workers and employers are; in agreement, extension orders mav be issued to prescribe the conditions of employment, in addition to those prescribed by the Act. The effect of "the amendment is to make the terms and conditions of all farm work legal and binding so long as they have been approved by representatives of the employers and the workers concerned.

The Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, said that arrangements already had been entered into witl orchardists and also with pram an' sheepfarmers. The purpose of the bi' was to give leeal effer* to *V ' ' ments, even if thev differed slightly from conditions laid down in the principal Act for workers on dairy farms. All farmers desired the legislation in Qrdcr that they might not be brought under the Arbitration Court. The bill was read the first time.