STRONG PROTEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 211, 6 August 1937, Page 7

STRONG PROTEST

HIGH SHEARING RATES. INCREASE THIS SEASON. MEETING AT FEILDING. Strong dissatisfaction at the ■harp rise in shearing rates from 27s to 34s a hundred, with rations, this season, was expressed at a meeting of the Feilding branch of the Farmers’ Union to-day, when it was decided to seek information from the Sheepowners’ Federation concerning the arrangement of the sliding scale on which the charges are based, to point out that conditions in the North Island differ materially from those in the South Island, and to make a protest against the high rates ruling.

Mr H. D. Richardson presided, others present being Hon. J. G. Cobbe, M.P., Messrs W. Younger, \V. Maxwell, T. Craino, B. McLeod, W AVatt, L. Knight, P. Simpson, J. H. Mason, J. B. Bradley, AV. Humphreys, and F. 0- Stack.

Machine shearers, according to the scale fixed for this season, are to receive 34s a hundred, compared with 27s formerly, and hand shearers 36s 6d, compared with 29s 6d, with rations, or an allowance of 4s a day where these are not found. Other charges have been increased proportionately. Commenting that the increased rates amounted to 7s a hundred, the chairman said the schedule, based on a sliding scale fixed by agreement between the Sheepowners’ Federation and the Shearers’ Union as a minimum, was considerably higher than for last' year, and it was considered that a protest should be lodged by the Farmers’ Union.

“NOT EQUITABLE.” Mr Bradley said he understood that the rate last year was not adjusted to wool values. The rates paid at that time were absurd. Though they might not do much good, said Mr Knight, they should protest. Last year the old agreement was scrapped and a new one arranged which was not in accord with wool values The opinion as expressed by Mr Bradley that a separate award should be sought for the North Island, as conditions were not the same as those in the South Island. Shearing of crossbreds was a totally different matter from handling Merinos, of which there were few in the North Island. The wage scale for shearers had been draw'll up by the workers with the Sheepowners’ Association, with which the Farmers’ Union had little in common, said Mr Younger. They should take a strong stand against conditions being meted out to them year after year by the Shepowners Federation. The position, was iniquitous, though the present scale might suit contracts for the big South Island stations. The suggestion was advanced by Bradley that they should not antagonise’ but should co-operate with the Sheepowners ’Federation. The chairman said he understood that though the scale was variable according to the index value for wool, there was a minimum of £l, with rations Mr Craine said that if there was a minimum, there should also be a maximum. Mr Younger said that the position regarding rations and the deduction of wage tax ought definitely to be determined. He had always understood that shearing was contract work There was also the question of payment for broken time. , . It had been openly declared to Inin by one of the men’s representatives, said Mr Maxwell, that it was the union which ruled, and not the Government. UNITED ACTION URGED. Taking up the case cited by the last speaker, Mr McLeod said it showed the futility of making representations unless there was strong and united action to support it. Mr Bradley considered tnat the high shearing rates would create unrest among farmhands. Mr McLeod added that some of the latter spent their holiday leave shearDairy farmers, said Mr Maxwell, appeared to labour under the impression that sheep farmers were coining Steps should be taken, slated Mr Cobbe, to ascertain from the bheepowners’ Federation the detai s o the existing arrangement, and thenpoii out its anomalies so far as the Nort Island was concerned. & '! eep had lost heavily over the last few years and, now they were just reestablishing themselves flni *" they were being called upon to meet ' ‘IE ffVKt on. man 2’d a lb to sell the wool oil 100 sheep. Mr Younger said the excessive nature of the charges was beL j° mln K Se ™^l A resolution, moved by Mr Liau ley, and seconded by Mr McLeod, was carried to secure information on the lines advocated by Mr Cobbe. An application lor a separate award for the North Island shearing was 11 reed bv Air McLeod. He said they should not submit to any scale imposed upon them, and should put up a '"On the motion of Mr McLeod seconded by Mr Knight, R was decided to make application, through .the headquarters of the barmers Union, for a North Island award. () “SHOULD SHAVE .THEM. Air McLeod suggested that a definite ruling ought to be obtained regarding the rations allowance. Both Messrs Richardson and Cran e said that, with time and a-lialf paid for hoggets, there should be a bettei rut - rnade l>v the sliP^i6rs. “Thev ought to shave the sheep for 34s a 100 ” commented one speaker. It was decided to seek a definite ruling regarding the 4s a day rations allowance.