19-2-2.] 



Conciliation Committees . 



G5B 



workers live at the farmstead : CuinberlaTid and Westmorland, 

 Durham and Nottinghamshire, and in Wales (Anglesey, Car- 

 narvon, Denbigh and Flint;. In 5 areas the Committees have 

 arranged a valuation for the provision of a cottage. In Pembroke 

 2s. 6d. per week is allowed as a deduction from wages on this 

 account, while in Stafford and Nottinghamshire the sum has 

 been fixed at 3s. The 2 Northumberland Committees dealt with 

 the matter very fully, and have agreed that the provision of a 

 house and garden, coal leading and potatoes shall stand as 

 payment for all stable time. Nottinghamshire has also met the 

 " allowances " question in a practical fashion by arranging that 

 tiie provision of milk shall be reckoned at the local wholesale 

 price. Incidentally, there is no other area at present which has 

 fixed a valuation for milk. Nottinghamshire has also agreed 

 that the local wholesale price shall be regarded as the valuation 

 for the provision of any potatoes. Under the Pembroke agree- 

 ment planting potatoes and the haulage of fuel is regarded as 

 equivalent to part payment at the rate of Is. per week. 



Half-holidays. — The observance of a weekly short-day, which 

 lias been strongly urged by the labour side, has not been 

 seriously resisted, the Committees agreeing in general that where 

 the workers desire the half- holiday the employers should facili- 

 tate the arrangement of the working hours as may be necessary. 

 Of the cuiTent agreements, 13 make definite provision for the 

 observance of the weekly short-day, and it is understood that 

 in manv other areas an arranpjement exists for ceasing work 

 earlier on Saturdays or for casual holidays to be given in lieu. 



Although the individual Committees are responsible for the 

 form of the agreements, the Ministry has prepared the skeleton 

 form of agreement shown below. The form is not intended to 

 bo exhaustive but it may be of interest as indicating the points 

 most general^ dealt with : — 



Specimen Form of Wages Agreement for Conciliation 



Committees. 



1. Tlie niiniinuin rate of wa^^es for adult male workers employed in afrri- 

 ciilture in the Committee's area shall be not less than /- for a week of 



hours (excluding Sunday). 



2. All time on weekdays in excess of hours per week to be paid for as 

 overtime at the rate of /- per hour. 



3. All work on Sundays to be paid for at the rate of /- per hour. 



4. The daily hours of work to bo so arranged as to enable ( ach worker, if 

 he so desires, to have a weekly half-holiday (either on Satui day or some other 

 week-day if more convenient to the work of the farm). 



