FARM WORKERS’ WAGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 256, 28 October 1937, Page 6

FARM WORKERS’ WAGES

INCREASE FROM OCTOBER A RETROSPECTIVE MATTER COMPLAINT REGARDING NO ADVICE At a meeting of the executive of the Wanganui Provincial District ot the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday a complaint was made that no official advice had been given farmers as to what new rates of pay, basea on the recently amended prices of butterfat, they would have to be responsible for to workers. Mr Claud Smith (Brunswick) raised the matter, pointing out that it was known that new rates would become operative from October 1, in accord with the principle of basing them oh the scale of guaranteed prices for dairy produce. The secretary to the Wanganui Farmers’ Union (Mr Kenneth Armstrong) replied that he had had no advice as to what the new scale was to be. Mr Smith quoted from the weekly official organ of the Labour Party, which gave a tabulated list of the new scale of wages as under, these rates to come into force from Octobet

A Member: Does that mean that we owe those rates from October 1? Mr Smith: I take it they are the official rates. I am quoting from the Government's own paper. It was decided to ascertain the correct rates and protest at the delay in forwarding official advice.

Age. Past rate. £. s. d. New rate. £. s. d Under 17 17 6 18 6 17 to 18 ... 1 2 6 13 3 18 to 19 17 6 19 0 19 to 20 1 12 6 1 14 3 20 to 21 1 17 6 1 19 6 21 upwards 2 2 6 2 4 9 (AH rates per week).