THE GUARANTEED PRICE

Southland Times, Issue 23180, 22 April 1937, Page 6

THE GUARANTEED PRICE

INCREASE IN THREE MONTHS HIGHER WORKERS’ WAGES TO FOLLOW The statement that an increase in the guaranteed price for dairy produce, with a consequent increase in the wages <.farm workers, would take place in about three months’ time was made by the Hon. F. Waite, M.L.C., at a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers’ Union in Dunedin. The new rate will operate from the beginning of the next export season. Mr Waite said that as a consequence the farm workers’ wage would probably be advanced to £2 5/- a week, with keep, from the present figure of £2 2/6, states The Otago Daily Times. Referring to the negotiating of the new agreement for farm workers other than those on daily farms, Mr Waite said he was one of the representatives of the Farmers’ Union at the discussions that had taken place in Wellington. The Minister had power by regulation to extend the provisions of the Agricultural Workers Act, passed last session, to apply to farms other than dairy farms, and it had been made perfectly plain that if an agreement commensurate with that Act were not arrived at, then an award of the Arbitration Court would be made. “The representatives of the New Zealand Workers’ Union at the discussions asked for the classification of all farm labour,” Mr Waite added. “We would not agree to that, nor would we agree to a clause providing for preference to unionists, which, in reality, was compulsory unionism. In the fruit . farm workers’ agreement there is a stipulation that when a man has been working for four weeks he automatically becomes a member of the union, and the employer has to deduct the union fees from his wages and forward.them to union headquarters. We objected to that.” The new agreement was on all fours with the Agricultural Workers Act, Mr Waite continued. Hours of labour were not prescribed, 18 days annual holiday was to be given at a time that suited the employer, and the minimum wage was fixed at £2 2/6 with keep, compared with an absolute minimum of £2 18/6 with keep that could have been secured under an award of the Arbitration Court. This rate of £2 2/6, plus 17/6 a week for keep, would come into operation on May 1, 1937, and would be revised on July 31, from which date the rate of wages would be £2 5/- a week for a period of 12 months. Taking it all round, it was not so bad, as there was freedom of hours and no compulsory unionism. “In the event of there being a fall in the price of wool next year, for instance, we have the right to ask for a reduction of these wages,” said Mr Waite. “The wages paid under the Agricultural Workers Act are based on the guaranteed price, and if that goes up the wages of dairy farm workers have to go up. “We were told that the guaranteed price would go up,” Mr Waite added, “and consequently there will be a rise in the wages of workers on dairy farms. It is probable that that will also apply to workers on other types of farms. For the next three months wages will be at the present level, and when the guaranteed price goes up wages will follow.” Appreciation was expressed of the work done by the representatives of the Farmers’ Union in negotiating the agreement, and it was generally agreed that in the circumstances it was a highly favourable one.