WOMEN ON FARMS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3828, 2 November 1936, Page 4

WOMEN ON FARMS

UNDER RATE PERMITS. Tile section ot the Statutes Amendment Act which last week amended the Agricultural Workers Act so as to give an inspector authority to issue an under-rate permit to female agricultural workers is divided into two sub-sections. The first of these amends section 14 of the Agricultural Workers Act by omitting from subsection six the words “by reason of infirmity arising from old age or other cause.” This sub-section formerly read: "If any agricultural worker satisfies an inspector that, by reason of infirmity arising from old age oi’ other cause, he is incapable of earning wages at the appropriate minimum rates . . . the inspector may from time to time grant him a permit to accept lower wages.” The second sub-section reads: “A permit may be granted under the said sub-section six to any woman or girl employed as an agricultural worker on any dairy farm if the inspector is satisfied, having regard to the conditions of her employment, the nature of the work performed by her, the time occupied in the performance of her work, and by any other relevant circumstances, that she is not reasonably entitled to wages at the prescribed minimum rate. Where a permit is granted for the purpose of this subsection, the inspector may also reduce to such amount as he thinks fit the amount (it any) payable to the woman or girl in respect of her board and lodging pursuant to subsection four of the said section 14.” The sub-section four there referred to provides that no charge shall be made for board and lodging provided for agricultural workers on dairy farms by their employers. In the case of any agricultural worker who is not provided with board and lodging by his employer the minimum rate of his wages shall be deemed to be the minimum rate for the time being prescribed under this section increased by 17s 6d a week.