The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning, Saturday, September 5, 1891. SHEARERS AND PASTORALISTS-

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 655, 5 September 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning,

Saturday, September 5, 1891. SHEARERS AND PASTORALISTS-

Be just and fear not | Lot all the ends thou Mxa'flt at ba thy country's, Thy God's, and truth's.;

Full reports are now to hand of the agreement arrived at by the Conference of pastoralists and shearers at Sydney last month. Satisfaction was generally expressed that the agreement was based on common-sense, with “give and take ’’ between the parties. The accepted definition of “freedom of contract" is—“ That employers shall be free to employ, and shearers shall be free to accept employment, whether belonging to shearers' or other unions or not, without favor, molestation, or intimidation on either side.” The rules laid down as to rate or pay, style of shearing, penalties, etc., may thus be summarised :—The price of shearing wethers, ewes, and lambs (including ram lambs under six months old) is to be at the rate of 20s per hundred; rams at the rate of 40s per hundred. The shearers are to be provided free of charge, during the time they are engaged shearing, with hut accommodation, cooking and table utensils, wood and water. Provision is made for the shearer leaving before the shed is finished through sickness, accident, or other unavoidable cause. In such case he is to receive the full amount due for sheep shorn, but he will be charged 18s per week for board and lodging, which amount shall be placed to the credit of the shearers' mess account. Once a week, on a day to be fixed upon at the commencement of the shearing, the employer will have to pay, if desired, 50 per cent, of the amount due over and above one week’s earning at the time of such demand. The men must obey the orders of the person placed by the employer in charge of the shed. Before starting work the men will draw lots for their places, and shall abide by the result of such drawing. The “ belly ” wool is to be taken off first where practicable, and laid aside. In opening the fleece at the neck and belly, both blades of the shears or the machine are to be kept under the wool and close to the skin, so as to avoid twice cutting, and the shearers shall not be allowed to run the shears or the machine through the fleece so as to break it down the centre of the back, and shall not stand on the fleece. In case the shearer turns out a sheep badly cut or insufficiently tarred, he shall at once sew and tar such cuts or wounds in his pen, or otherwise dress cr treat such sheep as directed by the person in charge of the shed, but no shearer shall be required to tar his sheep in other cases. The shearer shall not be allowed to kick or otherwise illuse any sheep, and in case he seriously injure or ill-use any sheep, he shall immediately report same to person in charge of shed ; and he shall pay to the employer the mess rate for the sheep so injured, and if the sheep be fit for food it shall go to the shearers' mess, the employer to have the right to refuse such payment and keep the sheep.” It is laid down in the agreement that the price charged for rations and shearer’s requisites shall not exceed cost price, with ten per cent, and cost of carriage added. Each shearer is allowed free run for two horses where 2000 sheep are to be shorn, but in case less sheep are to be shorn only one horse is allowed free grazing, No shearer shall be allowed to bring, or cause to be brought, any intoxicating liquor on to the station, and any use of bad language is punishable by fine. Shearing machines are now so frequently used that a Special clause had to be adopted with regard to them. In all sheds where shearing machines are used the shearer shall be provided with one comb and four cutters free of cost to every ! JOO sheep shorn by him, all combs and cutters used by the shearer above that number to be paid for by him at cost price. In case of stoppages through breakage or otherwise, shearers shall go ou shearing with the hand shears One of the most important of ail tb.e rules is that which refers to the hours of labor, the eight hours' system being practically acknowledged. No shearer shall be compelled to work more than 48 hours a week. The cessation of the trouble and the adoption of such liberal terms are matters for thankfulness The wearisqtt}e strife could not fail to be most damaging to both sides, and we hope , that loyally to the agreement will be I slfOngly iiiaintaliieiji