FARM MANAGERS?

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3759, 22 May 1936, Page 7

FARM MANAGERS?

SCHEME ADVOCATED BY FARMERS’ UNION.

DETAILS OF THE SCHEME. At last month’s meeting ot the Te Awamutu branch ot the N.Z. Farmers’ Union a sub-committee was set up to report on a proposal that a scheme be devised lor appointing farm managers, much on the lines ot the housekeeping scheme adopted by the Women’s Division. The report was presented at Thursday’s meeting ot the Union, and as published below. z Speaking to the report, Mr A. T. Bryant, a member ot the sub-commit-tee, said there were difficulties, but none ot them insuperable, to be overcome. It was a system ot insurance that had his warm approval. He thought many members would be interested. Mr C. J. Pierce congratulated the committee upon Its comprehensive report. The chief difficulty was to collect the £1 per annum as membership of the farm managers’ scheme. It was not identical with the Women’s Division housekeeper scheme. He thought It would have to be a regional plan, for the reason that the farm managers would be married men, and transport would have to be arranged. Mr E. Wilson suggested that the report be published, and then it could be discussed at a later meeting. Mr W. J. Hodgson asked how many members were required to launch the scheme. Mr G. T. Crawley thought 200 members was necessary. Mr Hodgson doubted whether the desire was really for a manager. He thought farm help was often needed, but a farmer would probably not approve of a manager perhaps altering a laid down policy ot farm work. There were some other points needing consideration. The scheme was dependent for success upon efficient laoour. The real need was for temporary assistance, and there was a real dearth of competent farm labour. Years ago he had advocated a system of apprenticeship to farming. A good myi can go anywhere and obtain employment. Mr D. H. Cavers said the report was not bard and fast. It was a basis on which to evolve a workable scheme. He thought the objective included keeping a record of farm labour, suitable or otherwise. The present scheme would make more readily available to farmers men who jare competent and reliable. Mr Pierce thought there would be difficulty in transportation, and that therefore it would be preferable to make the scope regional—confined to a particular district. A lot of harm could be done on a farm by a manager given full control. Furthermore, most men of the kind likely to be chosen under the scheme would be preparing to start farming on their own account. Te Awamutu could well be the headquarters, and each farmer requiring a man's services would find accommodation on the farm for him, his family remaining in residence at Te Awamutu. Mr Wilson considered the scheme should be started with one permanent man, preferably a farmer’s son; later the scheme would permit of employing other permanent men. A reserve fund could be built up. The provincial executive, he felt sure, would give its support, and no doubt part of the Te Awamutu branch's general membership fees could be made available as a guarantee. He recommended that the Auckland conference be a«ked to appoint a committee to further investigate the scheme. Mr Hodgson approved the proviso that members could secure the services of a man at half rates if the member is sick, but it not sick or injured the half rate should not apply. He went on-to refer to the terms of an insurance scheme covering farmers who employ labour. Mr Cavers said that the inducement to join depended on the general run of farmers paying the £1 per annum as an insurance protection. A general discussion followed, on various aspects of the report, particularly the financial aspect. Mr Cavers said the alternative scheme had been included, especially with that aspect in view. The scheme would make a man, or men, available to relieve farmers who wanted a holiday or became incapacitated. The report was only put forward as a basis, for approval or otherwise. Details would be worked out later. But.the committee wanted to know if the meeting approved the principle. It was decided to support the principles of the t eport, with a recommendation that the special sub-com-mittee go further into the project, in readiness for the provincial conference. Mr Pierce mentioned that both Waikato and Kaipara have remits on the subject for consideration at the provincial conference in Auckland. The Te Awamutu delegates to the provincial conference were instructed to accept the report of the subcommittee as the basis of their support at the conference.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE. FAVOURABLE RECOMMENDATION. Your committee set up at the last executive meeting to consider and report upon the above question have gone carefully into the matter, and although many difficulties have appeared, your committee has herein provided measures whereby those difficulties can be overcome, and have come to the conclusion that the scheme is a practical one, provided the major safeguards contained herein are approved. During their delib-

erations, however, your committee has gone further into the question of farm labour, and has decided to place before you not only a scheme governing the appointment of relieving farm managers, but also a more comprehensive scheme dealing with all classes of farm labour. Your committee, therefore, places

these twq proposals before you for your consideration, and would suggest should you approve of one of them, that you direct your delegates to the Auckland conference to place before that conference your views on the question and press for its adoption by

the Auckland executive. Should, however, that conference not take the necessary steps your committee recommends that the scheme be launched in the Te Awamutu district. RELIEVING FARM MANAGERS. That a Labour Committee be set up within the executive, together with a labour secretary, to carry out the work in connection with the scheme. That this scheme should be confined to Union members, and a Union member should only be considered eligible to obtain the services of the manager when he has been a member of the Union for at least three months. That all Union members who wish to come under the scheme should pay a subscription of £1 for the first year, thus ensuring that a fund be established whereby the Union’ would be enabled to guarantee the full time wages of the manager appointed. Tnat representations be made to the Provincial Union for funds to assist this scheme.

All members of the group who subscribe to this fund would have preference of a manager’s services. The only time a manager's services would be available outside the group would be when his services were not required by group members for any purpose. Any member outside the group who obtained the services of the manager iu case ot sickness or otherwise should be required to pay full rates. All group members would, in case of sickness or accident, receive the services of the manager at half rates for a maximum period of three weeks. This would be the maximum period of service unless the manager's services were not required elsewhere; but further service in this case would be at full rates. All group members who require the manager’s services for purposes other than sickness or accident would be required to pay full rates.

That all farmers who require the manager’s servivces in case of sickness or accident be obliged to furnish the labour secretary with a doctor's certificate or notification by a doctor. That before a Union member lie accepted as a group member he should satisfy the Labour Committee of his general state of health. The travelling expenses of the manager be paid by each member requiring his services. Your committee recommends that under this scheme one permanent relieving manager be appointed at a wage 20 per cent above standard rates the Union guaranteeing managers full time salary. A further three casual managers, preferably resident in different districts, whose services would be available at all times when required, should be appointed, at the same weekly wage as the permanent manager, but no payment be made foi stand-down time.

All cases of sickness or accident within the group would have preference over other applicants. FARM LABOUR SCHEME.

Under this scheme the Labour Committee and secretary as outlined previously, would have charge of the scheme, and would report monthly to the executive. Under this scheme one full-time re lieving manager only would be appointed; the conditions laid down previously and repayment and conditions would remain as stated.

All members wishing to come under this scheme would be required to pay a subscription of 10s. In this scheme the provincial unions would also be asked for financial assistance. That a farm labour bureau be set up, the labour secretary to advertise for all farm labour seeking employment, whilst all group members would make known their ' labour requirements to the labour secretary. That an employees' and register be kept by tbe labour secretary, and a record would thus be kept of all labour employed through the Union.

All employers to notify the secretary when an employee leaves or is dismissed.

Where an employee has been proved inefficient by the Labour Committee that employee should be struck off the Union books. That the Labour Committee endeavour to see that conditions offered by the employer are of a reasonable standard.

That as harvest time approaches the labour secretary advertise for harvesters, and the executive fix the rate of wages for this class of work, and fix a maximum working day. Broken time for weather to be taken into consideration. A number of men to be allocated to each district, and labour committees be required to make arrangements with group members to ensure that as far as possible labour is continually employed.

The harvesters will be required to work only for group members when such work is offering. That a fee of 5s be charged every employer for every man, married couple, sharemolkers, or group of harvesters supplied to group members. Should at any time there be a surplus of farm labour offering, it may be made available to members of the Union outside the group, at a higher rate.

The funds raised by this means, after covering costs, be used to supplement the farm manager scheme.