SHEARERS’ PAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 245, 30 July 1935, Page 7

SHEARERS’ PAY

THE NEW AGREEMENT.

REDUCTION ON LAjST YEAR. A drop in shearers’ rates of pay is shown in the agreement reached for 1935-36. In accordance with the award for shearers and shed hands, Mr J. W. Butcher, Government Statistician, Mr W. H. Nicholson as representative of the employers, and Mi- A. Cook as representative of the Shearers’ Unions meat at Wellington on Friday, when the agreement was reached. The Government Statistician’s index number for export prices of wool calculated for the 12 months ending June 30, 1928 was taken as equal to 1800, and it was found that the index number for export prices for wool for the 12 months ending June 30, 1935, was 750. The rates of pay for the 1935-36 season will therefore be as follows:

Shearers—(a) The rate for shearing by hand shall not* ho less than 19s 6d a 100 with rations; (b) the rate for shearing by machines shall not be less than 19s 6d a 100 with rations; (c) the rate for shearing lambs shall be not less than 19s 6d a 100 with rations; (d) in cases where the shearers find themselves in rations these vates shall he increased by 5s a 100; (e) the rate for stud sheep shall be settled by agreement between the employer and the shearer employed to do the work; (f) the rate for shearing hogget rams shall be rate and a half and for other rams double ordinary rate.

Shed Hands—(a) Pressers, by H* 6 week, £2 6s; by the hour, Is 4d'. (b) All other shed hands, by the week £2 Is; by the hour, Is 2d; Youths More than 16 years of age and less than 18 years of age—by the week, £1 6s; by the hour lOd. Cooks —for 12 men or fewer—£2 16s a week; or 10s lOd a day if employed for less than seven days. When more than 12 men are employed the wages shall be by agreement between the employer and the worker, but not in any case less than the said minimum of £2 16s a week or 10s lOd a day. Cooks’ assistants—£2 6s a week, or 8s lOd a day if employed for less than seven days. Itates paid in the 1934-35 season tor hand shearing, machine shearing, and lambs were not less than 22s 6d a 100 with rations.