SHEEP INDUSTRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 290, 14 September 1940, Page 2

SHEEP INDUSTRY

SHORTAGE OF SHEARERS. IMMEDIATE ACTION URGED. (Per Press Association). TIMARU, This Day. Tho departure from South Canterbury of more than 50 shearers able to shear 200,000 sheep during the season will occasion serious difficulty in sheepfarming circles next season, unless immediate steps are taken to meet the position, according to views expressed yesterday at a meeting of the Timaru A. and P. Association, which was addressed by Mr J. G. Leckie, of the Sheepowners’ Union. Remedial measures suggested during the discussion were the zoning of the shearers available or alternatively the arranging of runs by individual farmers, a broadcast appeal to shearers in other occupations, the release of men from Home Service during tho shearing season, and the introduction of some form of compulsion.

After Mr Leckie had withdrawn from the meeting a sub-committee was set up to draw up a resolution for submission to the Farmers’ Union, the District Primary Production Council, and to draft a- letter to the Minister of Man-power (the Hon. R. Semple). A great shortage of shearers was possible in South Canterbury during th 6 coming season, said Mr A. S. Elworthy, who introduced the discussion. He had been informed, that 56 shearers from the district had been called up or were on Home Service. Those men were able to shear more than 200,000 sheep, and it must be evident to all that a serious shortage would occur unless something was done. “I know that all farmers are patriotic and want to do all they can at such a time, but if good shearers are drafted into Home Service, we want to know whether they can come off and do their shearing if required.” Quoting from his own experience, Mr Elworthy said that of his four shearers one had gone overseas and two were in the Home Service. If those two were available during shearing it would be a great help.

“I think that the matter should he brought up. by the committee and looked well into. That is the position, and it is very serious. We must get the wool off the sheeps’ backs, and how wo are going to do it I don’t know,” he concluded.

Question of Zoning. The chairman (Mr W. H. Orbell) said that the award had been waived, and in future more latitude would be allowed. There would not be the same number of pinpricks as in the past. MrLeckie, he continued, had placed his views on the zoning of shearers before the Primary Production Council, but, personally, he did not favour the proposal under which shearers would be allotted to different districts. Some men were not good at shearing different classes of sheep, and under the present system they were put on to runs with the sheep they could shear best. He said he considered the remedy was in the hands of the farmers themselves, who should get together and try to arrange runs. In that way, he believed, a great deal of the difficulty could bo overcome.

A member interposed that a good many shearers could bo obtained from other occupations. ‘From past experience I consider that it is no good forcing men from Public Works to go shearing if they do not want to go,” said the chairman. “As a member of the .Sheepowners’ Union, I have come across some glaring cases. If the men don’t want to shear they will not shear.”

Mr H. B. S. Johnstone said that in his own case he had a shearer in a Home Service camp, and he understood that the man would be Jet off when shearing started to do his ordinary round. He said he did not ■ think there would be any'difficulty with the authorities, if Requests were put to them in the right way. The men would probably be l<it off. Mr Ehvorthy: We want to get the men from the Home .Service.

Shearer Learners. Admitted to the meeting at this stage, Mr Leckie said he was approaching the Association at the request of the Sheepowners’ Unioji. After mentioning that more than 50 shearers had left the South Canterbury district and stressing the seriousness of the position, he went oil to advocate the zoning of shearers and avoiding the loss of time through travelling, and the early culling of dry ewes from the wet. One of the most difficult problems facing farmers, ho continued, was that of shearer learners. Technical school teaching had not been a success, as far as he could see. O’no man could not teach 20 boys to shear. The only way was to put them on the board with experienced men. Another point was that the freezing works appeared to be starting up before shearing was through, and tended to draw men away from the sheds. If the works could be induced to alter the opening date it would be of some assistance. Mr Leckie also mentioned that the supply

of shears due at the end of July had not yet arrived ,and the same position applied probably also to combs and cutters. Mr E. R, Guinness suggested that a broadcast appeal for shearers on the lines made by the Hon. D. Sullivan for women workers in the clothing industry would help the position. Mr Leckie agreed that an appeal could be made, but quoted an instance where a direct appeal to shearers to leave other occupations proved unsuccessful. Ho claimed that the compulsory powers given to the Government for conscription should ho used in the wool industry.