FARM WAGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19438, 26 October 1925, Page 6

FARM WAGES

(To the Editor). Sir, —I noticed in the “Chronicle” of October 22 a scale of wages drawn up by the Agricultural Workers’ Union for employees on farms and stations. I hope they can get the scale of wages enumerated, but I do not agree with tho certificate of ability land the first, second and third class ability part of the business. There is one other thing in the scale of wages which surprises me, and that is they have failed to try and alter, but have rather aggravated, tho present anomaly which exists in tho country districts, that is as regards the wide difference in wages paid to a married couplo and to two siuglo people, say, a brother land sister, doing tho same work as a married couple. Taking tho agricultural workers’ scale published as a basis, a single man gardener is to receive £3 10s per week, a woman cook-generttl £2 10s per week; that is £6 per week between them. Tho wages for married couples are: Woman, cook-general, and man, gardener, £4 5s per week. Why the difference? Are not a married couple as good workers as two single people? Say, if “Bill Brown,” gardener, and “Alary Smith,” cook-general, are engaged by Mr Border Leicester, of Bullswool Downs, at respectively £3 10s and £2 10s per week, and they fall in love with oath other and get married, what happens? As Bill Brown and Alary Smith they receive between them £6 per week to perform certain duties for Air Border Leicester; but as soon as they become Air and Airs Bill Brown, although they perform tho same duties, their w’ages aro reduced to £4 5s a week—a reduction of £1 15s per week.

I would like someone or tho executive of the Farm Workers’ Union to show me the equity and justice of this arrangement.—l am, etc., AUSSIE. October 24, 1925.