FARM WAGES.

Wairarapa Age, 7 October 1936, Page 5

FARM WAGES.

POSITION OF MARRIED COUPLES. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. WELLINGTON, October 6. The Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong), in an interview to-day, said a misunderstanding existed as to the effect of the Agricultural Workers’ Act upon the wives of dairy farm employees and the employment of married couples might be prejudiced if the matter were not explained. The Act laid down a minimum wage of £2 2s 6d a week, plus board and lodging for a dairy farm worker. If free board and lodging were not provided, he was entitled to £3 a week. In cases where a worker was married and he and his wife were engaged as a married couple, with a free house and foodstuffs, the free house and foodstuffs were not regarded as 4 4 free board and lodging” under, the Act and could not be taken into account as part of the worker's wages. The statutory wage and holidays applied definitely to the husband, but not necessarily to the wife. The situation of the wife was governed iby the nature of her work, if any, for the farmer. If she was engaged wholly on farm work, she too was entitled to the statutory wage and holidays. If sbe performed in the main only domestic duties, and merely assisted for brief periods daily in farm work, she should be paid in respect of the latter duties a due proportion of the statutory wage. It. was admissable, in computing the wife’s payment of this proportion, to take into account the rent value of a free house and the yalue of anything else the farmer If the wife were engaged domestic duties, she was not subject to the legislation. Employers and employees were recommended to submit to the nearest branch of the Labour Department particulars of cases in which they were concerned and which they considered required individual consideration. Farmers particularly were requested not to terminate the engagement of married couples until they had made sure from the Department that their own or their employees’ estimate of the new wages due was correct. Farmers need not fear precipitate action by the Department to institute proceedings. The Department would endeavour to meet each case reasonably and was instructing ifs inspectors to treat each case on its merits.—(P.A.)