FIRM WAGES FIXED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3796, 17 August 1936, Page 4

FIRM WAGES FIXED

ADULTS £2 2s 6d A WEEK. MONTH’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY. The Agricultural Workers’ Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives last Friday by Governor-Gen-eral’s message. An agricultural worker is defined as a person employed for any period exceeding one week in agricultural, pastoral, flaxmilling or sawmilling work ot any kind, but does not include a shearer within the meaning of the Shearers' Accommodation Act. The Bill defines a dairy farm as a farm on which not less than 10 cows are ordinarily kept, .and from which milk or cream is sold or otherwise disposed of, in the course ot business. A sharemilker is defined as a contractor who has undertaken to perform in whole or in part the work of a dairy farm. Wilful obstruction ot an inspector will make an offender liable to a fine of £2O. Every employer is to provide sufficient and suitable .accommodation in accordance with the Act and any regulations included for all agricultural workers employed by him. EMPLOYMENT OF YOUTHS. It is laid down that no child under the age of 15 years is to be employed for hire or reward as an agricultural worker on any dairy farm. The minimum rates of pay to operate between the passing ot the Act and July 31, 1937, are fixed for a dairy farm worker, 16 years of age at 17s 6d a week, with an increase of 5s a week each year to 21 years. After 21 he must be paid £2 2s 6d a week, with board and lodging. Where board and lodging are not provided, 17s 6d must be added to the wage, making the amount £3 a week. RELATION TO GUARANTEED PRICE. After July 31, 1937, the minimum rates of wages are to be fixed by Or-der-in-Council, but are not to be less than the rates set out above. In fixing the minimum rates, regard is to be had to the prices for the time being fixed under the Primary Products Marketing Act, 1936. No deduction is to be made from the wages of the worker in respect ot time lost, except for time lost by reason of the default of the worker, by reason of his illness or of any accident suffered by him. There is provision for under-rate workers. HOLIDAY PROVISIONS. Every agricultural worker employed on a dairy farm for not less than four weeks continuously shall be entitled to a holiday of not less than seven days in the aggregate for every twelve weeks' employment, and a proportionate holiday for every broken period. The holidays are to be allowed at such time or times as the employer thinks fit, but the worker is to receive not less than 28 days’ holiday during eacli year ot employment. If the employment is terminated the holidays must be given forthwith. Where the holiday is to be longer than three days the employer is required, before the worker goes on his holiday, to pay him for the holiday at the same rate as for ordinary working time, plus an allowance in respect of board and lodging, at a rate not less than 8s 9d a week.

A wages and holiday book is to be kept on every farm on which agricultural workers are employed, and there is provision for a fine of 5s for every day in which the employer makes default in the payment of wages. Inspectors are empowered to take civil proceedings for the recovery of any wages payable under the Act. "SCALE QUITE REASONABLE.” The opinion that the scale was quite reasonable was expressed by Mr S. N. Ziman, president ot the Waikato Sub-provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. The scale was what the farmer had expected and none could complain that the payment of £2 2s 6d and 1 found was an unreasonable wage for a single man of 21 with experience. The question was whether the industry could stand that rate of pay on top of other rising costs. Mr Ziman added that it was difficult to answer the question until the season had advanced and the farmer could gauge ithat his actual receipts and expenditure were.