AGRICULTURAL AMD PASTORAL WORKERS' COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 34

AGRICULTURAL AMD PASTORAL WORKERS' COLUMN.

NOTES AND GENERAL INFORMATION.

In reply to "T. U." and others who niay be writing for a r- en *° the Common«ealth, I may state that I am not in a position just at present to publish the names of sheds shearing with the blades or machines. It would bo wise w«re New Zealanders, especially young men like "T.U.," to learn to shear with the machines as well as the shears. Any sr.earer who is still competent with the blades will, once he gets his machine in working order, be able to start eff with the machines like an old stager, only not as quick. In any cat 3 the writer would strongly advise young shearers to take on both methods, as. in his opinion, it is only a matter of time — perhaps a very shore time,— when some inventor will bring forward a machine that can be regulated to lea\e sufficient wool on tho sheep to protect the animal from heat in hot climates aad cold in cold climates. When' such a machine comes into use the blades "will be relegatrd to the tender mercies of tho hedge trimmer, in whoso hands a gap or two matters very little one way or - the other. Following are a list of sheds starting about the time you would like to go over, and in order to secure a nen in one of these you should write not later than the end of the current month. Of course you will understand that thcr may be blade sheds or machine ; as stated above, I am not in a. position to say. These are a few of the sheds starting on or about August 1. The best route to reach them is by b^at from New Zealand, via Melbourne, thence on by rail to Adelaide, S.A. I am of opinion that an arrangement can be mada wiih the U.S.S. Company for pas.age by rail from Melbourne to Adelaide, whereby the railway fare is considerably reduced ; hence it "may be advisable to make inquiries before taking out a ticket. From Adelaide tire North-East or Barrier line is taken. The total cost of the trip 1 to the sheds mentioned and back to this colony is not less than £20. The fcheds starting on or about the dates mentioned are: — Topar, Morden, Mundi Mundi. and Corona, August 1 ; Tarella. 7th ; Netley, Yandama, and Balaclava, 10th ; Tarcoola, 17th ; Languwirra, 24th. The sheds are all near the Barrier, consequently, when writing for a place, address via the Barrier, South Australia.. Thes.s> sheds are all fair sheds, and are, as a rule, cut out in time for the operator to get another shed down about the front. The following sheds start about tho latter end of July:— W«e Bolla Bolla. via Morce. N.S.W. ; Woolabtah. and Edgeori. All sheds in the Bpurke district ■will start this season -early in July. All sheds in the Bidel, Lower Lachlan, Bowman. Nyngan, Marra. Cobar, Lonsdale, Walgett, Oollarenebri. Narrabri, and Gunnedah district start in August. All sheds in these districts work in harmony with the A.W.W. In any case no trouble will arise this season, or, at all events, not of a genera 1 , nature. The writer would stronsrly advise workers to stay in the country districts. There _i» absolutely no work goingr on in Dunedin just at present. True, the work of constructing the dock at Port Chalmers is going on, but there are only a few men employed. During the course of last week an advertisement appeared in a local paper to the effect that 20 men were required for this job, and in response about 40 turned vp. but only five or sx were taken on. It would; be wise therefore were workers to make a certainty that sijch advertisements are genuine before soing to the expense of responding to them. With regard to the duplication of the Dunedin-Mosgiel line, it is not known when that work will be started. In respect to this, it would be hardly safe to place too much reliance on anything the Minister of Railways may say re the commencement of this work. It will be remembered that the Hon. Sir J G. Ward stated definitely that the work wag to be commenced last winter. Tho work, however, i« just as far off as over. The city drainage s«h-eme is practically finished, so far as labour is concerned, nnd there are at present not loss than 100 able-bodied mon idle in Dunedin. Some time ago the Mupterers' Union decided to invite sheep owners to a conference to be held in Dunedin on or about June 14. On the advice of the organiser, however, the chances are that no conference will take t-laoe. consequently the dispute will be taken direct to the Arbitration Court for settlement. The reason for talking this step is that station owners have not met us in the past when requested to do so, notwithstanding that the greater half of the expenses of 6ueh a conference has been borne by the union. In any case it is just as reasonable for the worker* to expect the employers to a?'k them for a conference as for us to ask squatters to meet us re taking the dispute on to the court. The organiser has also advised the secretary not to rush the case on into the court — that is. if the union desires to get anything like a sarisfaetorv award. It is known to the organiser that in June next the personnel of the Arbitration Court will be changed, when there will probably be some variation in the method of makinor awards. It i, not likely that the Otago Shearers' Union will be in a hurry to approach the court this season for the same reason. Some time towards the end of next month— as far as the writer knows, on or about the 28th— the Minister of Public Works, Mr A. Barclay, M.H.R., and others will be going up the Otago Central for the purpose of opening the Chatto Creek section. Advantage will be taken of the occasion to invite Mr Barclay to meet the pastoral workers. It is proposed that the party shall return to Dunedin via Roxburgh and Lawrence, and at those daces it i 3 probable that arrangements will be made for Mr Barclay to deliver -addresses on the labour legislation of recent years. Should Mr Barclay address meetings during the tour such meetings will be called under the auspices of the Otasro and Southland Musterers' and Shepherds' Union, and the first meeting will take place either in Clyde or Alexandra.

Mr Christie, recommended br Professor Lethaby, hag been seWted by the High Commissioner for the position of art instructor at tlw» Wellington Technical School in ■succession to Mr Herdman Smith. He holds a Slade School certificate