§ 29. Mr. BANFIELD (for Mr. THORNE)asked the Minister of Labour if he can state the number of men from England who are going to be sent to Jersey for the potato and tomato season; whether proper living accommodation will be provided; the number of hours worked per day and the rate of wages; and if the cost of the fares both ways is to be a charge on the Unemployment Fund?
Mr. HUDSONIt is hoped that there will be work for about 2,600 men in Jersey this year on the potato and tomato crop. They will be suitably accommodated on the farms free of charge. The wages paid are generally on a piece work basis and I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement of the rates fixed for this year by the Jersey Farmers' Union. The hours of work are usually from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with breaks for meals amounting to about two hours. The fares to and from Jersey are paid by the Jersey Farmers Union. I am sending the hon. Member copies of explanatory 1377 leaflets on the subject and of an article from the Ministry of Labour Gazette describing the arrangements which were made last year.
§ Following is the statement:
§ Rate of Wages.—The rates fixed for this year by the Jersey Farmers' Union for digging, picking and sorting of potatoes for export or for seed are:
§ (i) Potato Crop-Piece-work:
| Per vergee. | |||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Digging, picking and sorting | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Digging only | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Digging and picking only | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Digging and sorting only | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Picking and sorting only | 1 | 18 | 0 |
| Loading of barrels (where required) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
§ Amounts earned will be paid to the ganger, and in a gang, composed of digger, picker and sorter, it is suggested that the amounts should be divided in the following proportions:
| Per vergee. | |||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Fork | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Picker | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Sorter | 0 | 19 | 0 |
§ (Note.—Comparisons of measurement:—
§ One English acre equals 2¼ vergees equals 90 Jersey perches equals 160 English perches.
§ One vergee equals 40 Jersey perches equals 71 (approximately) English perches.
§ One Jersey perch equals 576 Jersey square feet equals 484 English square feet.
§ The English perch is 5½ English yards square; the Jersey perch is 7⅓ (approximately) English yards equare.)
§ (ii) Hay Crop—Piece-work.
§ Mowing hay, 12s. 6d. per vergee, minimum rate. Higher rates, according to condition of the hay, may be paid by agreement between the farmer and worker.
§ Bundling hay, 1s. 3d. per 100 bundles. The hay crop averages about 1½ tons per vergee. It is made up into bundles of about 6 lbs. each and stored in lofts.
§ (iii) Tomato Crop—Piece-work:
| Per 1,000. | |||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Staking, tying, trimming and weeding (1st crop) | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| Staking, tying, trimming and weeding (2nd crop) | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Tying and trimming only | 1 | 0 | 0 |
§ (iv) Day-work:
§ There may be limited opportunities of employment on general farm work at day-work rates for labourers with general farm experience. The following rates apply during the potato season only: 1378
| Per day. | |||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Men (over 18 years) | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| Women | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Youths (under 18 years) | 0 | 5 | 6 |