FARMERS AND WAGES.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18343, 1 June 1931, Page 3

FARMERS AND WAGES.

INDIRECTLY 4 AFFECTED. ADDITIONS TO HIS COSTS. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Monday. “The workers’ advocates contended that a' reduction in money wages would not materially assist the primary producer, while it would detrimentally affect internal trade by diminishing the purchasing power of the community," said Mr Justioe Frazer in the Arbitration Court to-day. “It is true that the average farmer will not be assisted to a great extent by a reduction of money wages pavable under awards and industrial agreements, if the reduction be regarded as applying only to wages directly paid by him,” continued His Honour. “The wages and conditions of ordinary farm labour are not re-' gulated by awards of this Court, and it is only in respect of certain casual and seasonal branches of farm work such as mustering, shearing and threshing, that the farmer comes under the direct jurisdiction of the Court. He is, however, indirectly affected by the wages and conditions prescribed by the Court for workers in meat freezing works and in cheese and butt, r factories in which the produce of his land is prepared for market. He is indirectly affected, also, by the wages cost t)f transport and distribution. As a consumer, of course, he is indirectly affected by labour costs in all his purchases, whether for his own domestic consumption or for the working of his farm. Even in respect of goods that are not manufactured in New Zealand a percentage of their cost to the farmer must be allotted to labour costs of transport, handling and distribution in this country.”