SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13739, 21 May 1910, Page 4

SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

DOMINION DEMANDS OF THE IN lON. In the recent dispute between the shearers and the employers, heard before the Conciliation Council at Masrertcn recently, the proposed conditions of labour to be observed liroughout New Zealand, which were agreed upon at the conference of representatives of the various unions held in Wellington during March and April last, were produced by the representative. A comparison lietween these new demands a:-*u those made by the Canterbury Union in 1908 and the provisions of the Canterbury award follows. The new demands ask for preference to the members of the New Zealand .Sheat ers' and Woolshed Employees' Industrial Association of Workers. The award provides that no c"i>crimination is to ho made against members of the 'Union ; that all sheep be properly dagiied before coming to thc shearers' hands, and no dagging to be done by the shearer during the process ol shearing There is no provision in the award oil this point. Crutching to he paid at the rate of not less than *>s per hundred. In 1008 4s fid was demanded; this was not given by the Court. Hours of work to be not more than 48 hours in cue week, work not to commence before 3.30 a.m., not more than 3 hours 40 minutes to be worked in one day. shearing to cease at noon on iSaturdav. {similar doii'.a.id.. were made in KKJS; the award fixed the week's work at -18 hours 20 minutes.

Price oi shearing to be not less than 20s per 100, and found, for all flock sheep, wethers, ewea, and lambs In 1908 22s ( ; d was asked for merinos and 21s for ficck sheep; tho award fixed the price at 18s. Pries lor shearing rams six months oil and over, double-fleeced sheep and i-tud .sheep, not less than 40s per 100 and found; stud rams 80s per 100 and found. Tho 11)08 demands asked for double rates ior rams six month*" old and river, and iate and a half for tend sheep, rain stags and double-fleeced sheep: the award granted rate and a j half for hogget rams, double rates for ! oilier rams, and stud sheep by agreement. | Each .'hearer to be credited by the employer at the rate of (3d per ,100 for all sheep shorn by him, for the purpose of covering the cost ol wear and tear of shearing appliances, and to bo charged cost price for combs, cutters, shears, oil and stones. In 1908 the demand was for an allowance of 3d per 100; not granted. Thc present demands regarding the settlement of disputes as to wet sheep t>nd so forth are practically the same as those provided for in the award. Clause. 21 of the new demands roads: —"In sheds where machines are used, the employer shall provide suitable and sufficient machinery, in good order and condition, and employ an expert person to run tho machinery, and to keep the machine in proper working order; and it shall he the duty of such expert to provide each shearer with a machine in good running order at the commencement of the shearing. In all cases the shearers shall be the proper persons to decide as to whether or not the expert is competent to fulfil his duties as such. Experts shall have a certificate of competency fronf the Association.'' The award provides:—"ln rheds whero machines are i;sed, the employer shall find the necessary machinery i and oil, and the shearers olmll pay for combs and cutters at cost price." In a sli3d not employing mere than "four" shearers, no shearer to hold the' dual' position of shearer and expert. In 1908 tho demand read "five": not granted. Whero a shearer acts also as an expert, to be prfid 2s fid per 100 additional for all sheep shorn in the- shed during the ouriency of his dual position. In U:08 is per 100 was asked for: not granted. Regarding rations the clause in'tbe new demand reads: —"Tbo employer shali provide well-cookad and wholeseme food '*n sufficient quantity, including not less than I.lb of butter and I.lb of jam per man pi\- wee!:, lie shall uipply tho cook with tho following rations:—Oatmeal, toa, coffee, sugar, flour, :ic__, sago, currants, raisins, fine salt, pepper, mustard, vinegar, milk, vegetable! (to include cabbage, potatoes, and onions), mutton, beef, baking powder, cream of tnrtar. carbonate of soda, hops, dried apples and curry powder. The employer shall provide at the cook's quarters a properly constructed fly-proof safe for the 'uso of the shearers' cook, and no Asiatic shall bo employed ar cook or to supply vegetable;.?.'' A somewhat similar demand (with the-exception of the part prohibiting th_> employment ot Asia ti as or of the Isupply of vegetables by Asiatics) was made in 1008. The clsusj in the .-.ward reads: —"Where rations are provided by iho employer, sufficient food of good quality shall be supplied to the men, and shall incliide jam. and jiot less than one pound of butter per week for each shearer." The following demands hare not been previously made:— That a clock (to be kept in proper order) he placed in n conspicuous place m the shed; a tally-board with daily tallies to ho placed on tho board'; where machines are installed after the award comes into force they shall be placed at los* than oft Gin apa_t (the Australian award provides for a minimum space of oft for each shearer on tin* shearing board- The new demand ot the New Zealand shearers, probably, ought to read: "At not less than oft Gin apart." Shearing shed built: after the award to have single catching pens not more than G4 square feet, shearing hoard not more than Bft wide; men to draw lots for pens before commencing work; where eight or more shearers employed, learners to be engaged nt the rate of one learner to every eight .shearers; representatives of the Association to be, allowed to visit the siiearors for the purpose of enrolling members; if a shearer leaves or is discharged before tho completion of shearing, the employer to have the shearer's horse brought to the shed or provide hin. with a horse to get his own horse in : prices charged for shearers' requi- . ite.-; (oxeeptintr combs and cutters) not to exceed cost price, with 10 per cent, and carriage added: cm'.loyers to accept member's ticket iv "licit of money deposit; fares to bo paid all shearers ii-.m office of engagement to station, and men finding their own means of locomotion to receive payment equal to fare., medicine chest to lie provided r.n-l first aid advice printed with all agreements; experts to receive not loss than L',. per week when oxperting where ••"•s than eight shearers cin*il..ved, whore more than eight, not less than il~> per week. The conditions for .shed hand- include the following:—The employee to agree t■•» start on a specified date; a weefi's notice on either side to terminate enemployee to work the re•_uiar shcarim* hours and such* tiddiliona! time each day and afternoon on Niuirday hk may .he necessary to clean up the sited; wage*. 1"J per "week and 1 !!-H(J: L '..(kl nnd .sufficient hut accomii'fidation. conking, washing and tanlo '•teiisiL-.. wood r.nd fire, free of charge, :_!.<> saiiitao c.mvr-n.cnr.-". : employer* to !•!< vide -mid and -.itfiicent rations. c....kc:l by a competent ccok ; employer to find free grazing for oik- horse "tor f.i.-.i -lied hand; no picker-'..i> .siir.ll hi.vc more than five shearers to "attend i". __ Wool-pressers to receive not less than •X* per week ond found where fewer tran ten shearers are f n;.'<.--ed; where i ore than ten are cmnta.vod'. ]_. 6d per 1...1e cf 3*. cwt, or Ud per c-vt ; ;.;;.J when with screw or _-iii.il;*r '.rcises, *"d per cwt; where pressing done by

contract, all mon engaged at the press te receive equal payment; branding and stacking to be paid extra: woolpresses to be kept in good order by the employer. Cooks to be paid not less, than £'3 per week for cooking for under 20 men; £i for 20 mon "and up' to 30: .-<"" for 'JO men and ever; cooks' assistants, not less than 40* per week; separate sleeping accommodation to be provided for cooks and cooks' assistants.