SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17813, 12 July 1923, Page 6

SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

■ ■ ' MARLBOROUGH CLAIMS. (PUBSS ASSOCIATION TBLEOBAII.) BLENHEIM, July 11. The Arbitration Cfmrt, which is-sit-ting here, considered an application by the Marlborough Shearers' and Shed Hands' Union for an award covering rates of pay, bonus, etc., for shearers in the coming season. Mr C. Grayndler represented the Union, and Messrs K. Wanden and W. H. Nicholson the employers The Union claimed a 44-hour week, with rates of pay on the following scale: —- (a) Bates for shearing by hand shall not be less than £1 10s a 100, with rations and two pairs of shears for each 700 sheep, one pair for 700 sheep when long wools are being shorn. (b) The rate of shearing by machine shall be not less than £1 10s a 100, with rations. ■(c) The above rates shall be increased by 5s a 100 when shearing merinos. (d) The rate for shearing lambs shall not be less than £1 103 a 100, with rations. (This clause was agreed to at a sitting of a Conciliation Council.) (f) The rates for stud sheep shall be double ordinary rate. (g) Rates for shearing all rams double ordinary rate. (h) All sheep must be dagged before coming into shed. The Sheepowners' Federation meets tho shearers' demands with a counterdemand, consisting of the existing award. After hearing evidence, his Honour said it was agreed in Wellington that no local awards should be decided upon till the Court had gone as far as Christchurch and Otago. The question could then be decided whether tin parties wtould be prepared to take a local aiward 09 a' Dominion award. A further opportunity would be given to discuss the award then. In the meantime the Court would not deal with the shearing dispute in the Auckland district.