THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17853, 28 August 1923, Page 3

THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

ARBITRATION, COURT HEARING. At the Arbitration Court yesterday, before his Honour Mt Justice Frazer, with whom were associated Messrs W. ■ Scott (employers' representative) and \Mr H, Hunter (workers? representative) jui application was filed by the Sheepowners' Federation as representing the employers, for a Dominion award. The, application was opposed by the union until such time as evidence had been heard by the Court in the various cctatres. Already evidence has been heard; in the dispute in Dunedin and Wellington. Mr W. H. Nicholson appeared for the Sheepowners' Federation, and* Mr C Grayndler, represented the workers. Mr Grayndler explained that the unioa was in favour of a uniform set of conditions throughout the Dominion so far. as conditions themselves were concerned, but not with regard to rates of pay. In answer to a question by his Honour, he said that the Canterbury Union was not prepared to accept the ration clause which had been accepted by the Otago Union, nor the clause dealing with the shearing of stud sheep which left the matter to mutual agreement between the parties. W. Dean, cook on a North Canterbury station, gave evidence that shearers' cooks under the present award were underpaid, considering the hours i of worfc. "Wfcere leas, than 12 men -were jemployed, the wages.were left to 'mutual arrangement. 'Some, employers (treated their men well, but they were Somewhat exceptional. • Norman Towart, a shearer, stated tliat he commenced work at Timpen-.. dean, in the Waikari, district, and- in sqven weeks he shore 6500 sheep, wPrich averaged about 73 a day. He saiid that the broken season was no worse than'the average in North Canterbury hill runs, as there was much time iost usually. Blades were used in the- sheds he was employed in, and he purchased nine pairs of shears, which cost from 8s 6d to 9s a pair. In answer to Mr Nicholson, witness stated that he knew the Shearers' Union supplied shears at 6s a pair. I Pei-cival Britten, a machine-shearer,, said that he commenced work lost season on November 12th, at -the ScargiU public shed, where he shore 1800 sheep in fouv weeks and three days. He went on to Beckenhain Hills, where 3400 sheep were shorn. His share was 1200 for 14 days. Afterwards he shore at where 12,000 were put through.'. He shore 2000 in five weeks, and eight men were on the board. His expenses v>l travel would be £2, and the eost of combs and cutters was about £4. The flat award rate of 24s a 100 was paid in each shed. Employers' Case. B. M. D. Morten, of Tai Tapu, said he employed six shearers putting through 4692 sheep'. The average earning of each man was £9 14s for nine ' day's work. One of the men was paid J2s6d a day extra as a. machine expert. To Mr Grayndler witness stated that the men bought their own combs and cutters. A Maori gang was employed and a Maori woman cooked for them at the award rate of £3 10s a week. | SEC. D. Acland said that for the j 1921-22 season the tally-book for the Mt. Peel station showed that the average'number of sheep shorn per man was v 162 (excluding Sundays, and including wet days from start to finish of tho season). The average weekly tally was 600 sheep, which, at 24s per 100, worked out at £7 4s per man and fonnd. For the 192,2-1923 season, 16,330 sheep were shorn with 10 men throughout, which equalled 1633 sheep per man for a period of 23 working days. Thv» pay averaged £5 2s per week per man, and found, and the weekly tally was 426 sheep. That season was exceptionally wet, and shearing was itojped for 10 days at one stretch. To Mr Grayndler, witness stated that he had a very good team of shearers i last year.. The, shearers secured all [the rations theyv wanted. He always

supplied Vis shearers: -with L tables, but in wane <g t«s *jjj*jflßr/'/ try stations? sueh -a eovrae somewhat dVmeult. He did sat'fglWf* that the eoeVt -worked: 84 IwEPralßß&w or even 16 haurs a day. 4* all he waß giveir double -pay *W < M|pp§ Ebeneser Hayv sheepowaer, «iTOpM*J3 Bay, said that in 1981 he had tmsmmS four shearers. Q,f taew tw<jsmfnißll had wofked 114, touts a*l «bom 3HK " sheep; tho second sad aratt(tiL#|gp§i hours and had shorn 306* «l|istat f >'f»»|| third, 128 i hours aM 218S rtssi6»fis|| the fourth, 188} hears and 31i|]gtl||gj| ''The average weefely* ean ' first-nan waa £8 $s |f«r average weekly ta^'\^ J wkMffiM|Hi -second man had earned, aa £7 16s per week, and >%SH|HI weekly tally waa 65* £7 16s per week, mstb sheep; and the fourth, week, with a.tally "W' sJ ** l lMß^^i Derek Westeara, at president of the ,C*** M owners' Union, said that had 3500 sheep •henrIt took exactly • tortaW* IMH the entire floek. He aaW" tjpt:l»|llip had no trouble with did not have to kill «|AM|H| or chop wood for #* tMNp * 'Zsl'^SH To Mr Grayndkr, ii%!«WB he secured good stakNM Ml stud sheep, for often gave the •* sistanee by hohfiag tN v a rule he Mt At* sheep to the that was, of coarse, If |K#|if^^^n Mr Grayndler. in Umi address to tw Ow»t»fiWi\M|H^H|P work bell nag knocking-off tisje. vs^MfMK^^HHffl sheaxcr went as ccuW, and often ctM» MfefiJiHll just as the time-hoB WSa W"j§i@«||li regard to shad >*»fe rn'ffflliPHH these men, bat osdyjiy the tin*., they le|iMM«g M Mn W. H. of his address, said submitted that the Court bad made its a^»rtaey|p|p|(|^ to the previous award fied the baa» were made. " shearers and shed I>* last year on a level the workers" under 'w ft receive the same reawesatMß **SBif ■workers of a 4dnikr daw awards left no jvMttficatfce, sm'9mfmm crease, presided tfesTm had sot increased since the last, award. He sofrmKttd evidence- bad not shown tk* o&mMr'l or' any substantial fftmium «e aMp,-? that would. any dnwiaw mm/fz the previous decision « |s»Ob»»*. jm® "■$ Nicholson said that it years in the majority of- c**** t | gSl l able sheepfarmers to recaoß for losses sustained dwriae«ss bstt' 4 years and- the paaifett t&fa'immgjt, ; ,:" as a whole could be xeadiry Mi*«>aii|if t,l by reference to tin amtiiin ■■ ej| > «ißjgi f drafts on' sheepowaeraf awrtwuta- HP 1 3 the various financial iastitsdnaaav JrA ,;g notwithstanding tea the Om«t i,|| made it clear that the cenditjoa inm-s* industry could not ba nwift ta- HHg$M when fixing the rates) «£ pay for inspfcy ers engaged therein. . . -- -Mr Nicholson, at tbe tom&mm& , his address, asked the Cbw* SJt would tewilliaa to inak«aa«w«*lßt : all districts wrlit the eusftiefcaf Gt*> J His" Honour stated that jk vmt&mjl&M M when the Omrt wooH B* aUt: to & visit Gisbome. Ibera. to wnrtt t» b« m done in that centre, but b» say when the Gnzi woaH ba~ait|',«» M take it in band. ... . Jg*Z d Mr Grayndler said tie* 4i» would be willing to drop saianl <omk, 'M important danses to bs CKsborne, and_bii Bamr ')H|!{fM|% that if tie repraatntatrMi, tending parties the Conrt might bft an - award for llni liiii if IbKI exclnding GJabocaa. ,y desTonr to nan evening, and lit' lui^^BßfHHl tnas wie VjOwnrs tbo) matsejr TOfßpw^psßiWß|^Mro[^M|ffi QejSwwas\''VSa