Group Employment

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 71, Issue 3, 15 September 1945, Page 225

Group Employment

fry

P. S. SYME,

Instructor in Agriculture, ■ t • t Warkworth.

Can It Solve Casual Labour Problem ?

EVER since the outbreak of war imposed new burdens on manpower there has been an insistent and unsatisfied demand for farm workers. This labour shortage is by no means new, and of certain aspects, at any rate, it may be said that wartime conditions have merely accentuated former difficulties. While there is a strong demand for permanent workers, many farmers on the other hand do not require full-time assistance, but would gladly avail themselves of outside help for some of those) odd jobs which are apt to accumulate and which, with no assistance offering, must be left undone.

Experience over a period of years seems to show that good casual labour is available to the farmer only in time of slump or when unemployment is fife in the cities. Indications suggest that a period of prosperity lies ahead, and it is fervently to be hoped that plentiful labour in the future will not be conditional on another trade depression. That casual workers should be so scarce even in normal times is somewhat surprising in an agricultural country like New Zealand. Doubtless there are thousands of competent farm hands who would be only too pleased to leave the restless pavements of the towns for the tranquillity of the country, if guaranteed continuous work and a comfortable home. There .lies the rub —how to guarantee these two prime essentials? The solution of this problem is in large part the solution of the labour problem on many New Zealand farms. Essentially Communal Problem Thinking along these lines, a group of farmers in the Wark worth district came to the conclusion that the remedy lay largely in their own

hands. The problem was really a communal one, and could be solved co-operatively by the .farmers themselves. After careful consideration the Wark worth branch of the Farmers’ Union evolved a scheme which seemed to offer a prospect of success. Investigations showed that 40 of the 76 members of the branch needed casual labour and would be prepared to guarantee this to a good man. More detailed inquiry showed that a group of 14 of these were, between them, willing to guarantee a full year’s work, each paying one week’s wages in advance to finance the scheme. With full employment assured, prospects at once became brighter. There remained only the question of accommodation to be satisfactorily settled, and the scheme would be ready for

a practical test. Fortunately, a suitable house became available, and an ex-serviceman was engaged to serve a group of 14 farmers situated within a convenient radius. This worker has now been engaged continuously for a period of nine months, and the scheme has operated so satisfactorily that two more employment groups have now been formed and will shortly be in operation.

Basis of Scheme As any solution of the labour problem in the Warkworth area might serve as a basis for a solution elsewhere in New Zealand, the following brief details may prove of general interest: —

As a commencement, each member signs a form specifying the number of weeks he is prepared to employ the worker on terms set out in the main agreement, which specifies as follows: —

I. Each member will provide the work promised in the form.

11. Each member will pay the union (i.e., the Warkworth branch of the Farmers’ Union) in advance a sum equal to one week’s wages. (This ensures sufficient capital to operate the scheme).

111. Covers prohibition of dangerous work unless by special agreement.

IV. Each member to pay the Farmers’ Union branch 2/lb| per hour at fortnightly intervals as long as worker is employed by him. (This provides for an overhead cost of 3d. per hour for running the scheme and allows for paid holidays and wet time, etc. At the commencement 2|d. an hour was allowed, but this was found to be insufficient).

V. The union branch undertakes to pay the worker all monies due

to him and takes the onus of any claims off members.

VI. Deals with administration and keeping accounts by union branch.

VII. The union branch to pay wages due and to insure workman against all claims under the Workers’ Compensation Act.

VIII. Terms of employment to be based on 40-hour average week as a minimum, but workman may work longer hours.

In turn, the workman also signs a

workers’ agreement as follows:

L Workman agrees to accept employment under the terms.

11. Worker will apply himself diligently to all work as directed by the union branch.

111. The worker shall render time sheets to the union branch and will be hired at the rate under agreement Farm Workers’ Award rate of 2/7| per hour.

IV. Deals with the reporting of accidents and disputes to the union branch.

V. The workman will occupy the house provided and the union branch will deduct from his wages an amount for rent as agreed on. The workman will evacuate the house within seven days in the event of the termination of his employment.

VI. The union branch will pay punctually to the owner all rental deducted from the worker’s wages and due to him as rent, and will produce receipts when asked by the worker.

AHI. Deals with arbitration in the event of disputes.

Good Budgeting That the preliminary estimate of

the operational costs of the scheme

was fairly close to the mark is shown by the experience of No. 1 group from its commencement on September 23, 1944, to June 30, 1945 £ { s. d. £ s. d. Cash received from group members for work .. 221 411 Wages paid to worker .. 215 19 0 Office and administration ■ costs .. .. 7 22 Insurance .. ...... 300 Loss to date on group 4 16 3 £226 1 2 £226 1 2 The loss of £4 16s. 3d. shows that the running expenses, paid holidays, wet time, etc., were slightly underestimated at 2|d. per hour. This figure has now been raised to 3d. per hour, and with the lowered overhead charges resulting from the formation of the new groups this should prove to be quite adequate. Well Employed That the farmers have employed the workman largely on work which might not otherwise have been per-

formed is shown by an analysis of his time-sheet during the nine-months period under review— Class of work. Hrs. Class of work. Hrs. Scrub cutting .. 313 Pump repairs .. 18 Gorse cutting .. 163 Sewing stack Blackberry cutting 42 covers .. ... 9 Clearing fence Grubbing gorse .. 159 lines .. .. 218 Hay making' .. 53 Knapping metal ... 9 Concreting ... 18 Fencing .. .. 36 Topdressing ... 69 Draining .. .. 398 Digging rushes .. 18 Total hours worked .. .. 1,523 Crucial Points Experience obtained by those concerned in the running of the scheme to date suggests that the following points are of great importance:—. Much depends on getting the right man, and consideration must be given to his welfare. Farmers should guarantee work for 12 months ahead. This permits of planning ahead and allows ' of the worker’s time being utilised ; to the best advantage.

~,JEach group should have control over , the selection and discipline of its worker. . A special employment committee in each district should he made responsible for the payment of wages, collecting accounts, and the settlement of disputes, etc. Critics of the scheme will appreciate that much depends on the calibre of - the man employed. He must above all be a capable and industrious worker, and one who can be depended on to work in smoothly with his different employers. For this reason very great care is taken to secure a good man, and, as an added precaution, he is interviewed and engaged collectively by the group concerned. Much attention is devoted to his previous record, and, if a local

man, this should serve as a useful guide to his fitness for the job. It is pointed out also that housing accommodation may prove an a wkward, hurdle In this connection it may be possible to erect one of the special temporary pre~fabricated rural houses now available, or to build a State house suited for a rural worker. More perplexing, perhaps, is the situation which might be created by an unsatisfactory worker who refuses to vacate the house and thus nullifies the working of the scheme for the whole group. This eventuality, however, is possibly less likely to happen than might be supposed, as the collective weight of public opinion in a country district would tend to ostracise the offender and result in no alternative work being offered.

Fortunately no contretemps such as the above has yet been met, and, with increasing experience, any difficulties can no doubt be satisfactorily overcome. Recent investigation has shown that in the Rodney County alone there is scope for 15 employers groups. Operated on a nation-wide basis, it is evident that the successful utilisation of this or some other such scheme could do much to help in rehabilitation work, and could at the same time assist the hard-pressed farmer in increasing the supplies of food. • If ' left to solve itself, there always will be a labour problem. On the other hand, the Warkworth experience clearly shows that a joint communal effort offers an excellent prospect of a satis- . factory solution. The choice lies between a policy of drift or one of organised endeavour. If it be true that Heaven helps those who help themselves, there is no doubt which is the better policy.