THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13005, 6 January 1908, Page 7

THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

(M_s« ASSOCIATION TXLEOSiJC). PALMERSTON N.. January 4. A special meeting of the Palmerston branch of the Farmers' Union, waa held to-day to discuss the shearers' dispute. It was stated that the object of the union warn to improve the condition of farmers generally and to help every .branch of labourers included. . The * oll0 *"« objections to the claims of the ahear--2™ ™re raised :—<l) The rate cannot b? the sSie for all districts; (2) if „ere are machines, the once should not be the same m if hand ahear. £ere used; (3) for sheds which have* large night pen in P™P° rt £ n .S O ,J?_ number tf ehearera, there should be a differential rate; <4) ~me grro «g ?ake was necessary in <*» ™£ "dsffeinE." Wet sheep should be sub,ectto the decision of the manager of the shed; (6) limitation of learner* v unreasonable for there aire too few shearers already. There was a publio meeting or rarmere in the afternoon, when the neo_«ity for taking action to meet the case was painted out. and it was stated that the union would not go before the Conciliation Court, though they were quite willing to assist towaKls an •micable understanding. The following resolutions were carried:—That ihe meeting request the Pro—inoial Executive of the Farmers' Union to take steps to meet their citation, before the Conciliation Board and that the meeting agree to pay 5s per thousand sheep towards the fighting funds, and that the meeting endorse the action of the Farmers' Union Executive in declining to argue before the Conciliation Board. A oomanittee was appointed to act with t_e Farmers? Union Executive.