THE SHEEP INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18151, 14 August 1924, Page 10

THE SHEEP INDUSTRY.

OWNERS AND EMPLOYERS. In referring to industrial disputes, the annual report presented to members of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union last night stated that the Arbitration Court had increased the shearing rate by Is per 100, and slightly increased the wages of adult shed hands. "In view of the stabilisation thus secured, your executive feels that the result of the representations made on behalf or' sheepowners through the Union will generally be regarded with satisfaction," stated the report. ''During the slump period the shearers' representatives advocated on behalf of the workers that the condition of the industry, and .prices obtained for wool could* not be* taken into consideration when fixing rates of pay, and thatthese rates must be fixed according to the cost of living and on a level with rates paid for similar classes of work under awards of the Court in other industries, and quite irrespective of ability of the sheepowners to meet the cost of labour laid down under the awards of the Court, and the Court fixed rates during the slump period on this basis.

"In view of this, your executive was surprised to learn'that the Shearers' Union omieals had, through the Federation, requested that we should agree to a joint application being made to the Court for a new award on _ the ground that the workers were entitled to a share in the increased price being realised for wool. Your executive, with other Sheepowners' Unions throughout the Dominion, refused absolutely to agree to this on any ground whatever; and, as the Court has no power to alter any existing award without the consent of all the parties thereto, it may be taken for granted. that no further, action will'be taken during the currency of the present award, tho Act precluding this. The Minister of Labour has, however, been, approached by the New Zealand Workers' Union's president with a request that legislation be amended to cover this point. This matter will be dealt with by th-i Federation Executive when in Welling-, ton next month. A veiled of trouble was.conveyed in a letter dealing with the suggested ■ application for amendment, but there is, in the opinion of your .executive, no cause for anxi-ety-in this connexion, the shearers themselves having in many cases expressed themselves -..as satisfied with the existing conditions. It' is anticipated that no exceptional difficulty will be experienced in carrying on shearing operations next season."

NEW YORK EXCHANGE. DROP IN STERLING. (by cable—pbess association— copykight) (austbalian and n.z. cable association.) (Received August l-3th, 7.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 12. Liquidation on the London, market, where the holder of sterling was realising the profit afforded by the_ recent rise, caused sterling to reach 4.53|, representing an overnight decline' of three cents.

Continental exchange remained stationary. ... . Observers anticipate a renewed advance in sterling as soon as the temporary, liquidation is completed. RECORD PRICE FOR EAM. MERINO SOLD' FOR 5000 GUINEAS . (BI CABLE—PBESS -ASSOCIATION—COPYEIGHT) • (AUSTBALIAN AND N.Z. CATJ.E ASSOCIATION.) SYDNEY, August .13. ; A record price for .Australia' "of -",5000. guineas has been paid for a merino ram, by Mr Roy McCaughey, of Coonong. GOLD. (AUSTBALIAN ANb N.Z. CABLE ASfOCIATIOIO ■ ■ LONDON, August 12. Gold is quoted at £4 10s Sd, an ounce SHARES. (AUSTRALIAN AND/N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, August 12, S>. and 0. (dof.)—Buyers, £285; sellers, £295.

Banks—Australasia,, £l3 16s 3d; New South Wales, £39 15s; National of New" Zealand, £6 10s; New Zealand,. £9O. 15s and £2 18s. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd. (ord.), £9l 10s.

BURNSIDE MARKET. ■ (PBESS ASSOCIATION TZLEGBAH.) DUjNEDIjN, 13. There wqa;a rise of about les per head in the prices tor fat cattle at Burnside to-day. Pigs-were also dearer,-there being a small ytiding. Sheep also' participated in the rise to the extent of Is bdj per head. Fat Cattle—There was art entry of 217 head, compared'- 1 with 220 laat week. The animals penned .were medium 4o..very fair quaiity, with, a sprinkling of plain cattle. 'A'he - opening prices ■ were -ahead of those of last week, and throughout, values were up About 15s per head.on last week's', rates. Prime' handy-weight bullocks cold at-up' to 41s 6d per". 1001b. forward ■ heavy-weight .bullocks' to 40s,' medium quality bullocks e 38s to 40a, good prime heifers to 355, arid-.cowa 25s to •303. Extra-prime bullocks • inaCe ilß'l7a : fid, prime quality £l4 10s to £l7V.'ahd lighter'sort s £ll to £l2 10s. Extra-prime heifers brought sis much as £ll 10s, and lighter sorts Jrom £7 2s. 6d to £8 10a. Extra prime cows brought up to £lO 10s, and.medium from £6 to £7 9s. . .

Fat Sheep—There was an. entry of-'1478 head, compared with 1606 last week. ; were a good many plain sheep, but tie: supply of fair to prime animals was enough to meet the demand. The sale fluctuated a good den 1. In the oj>ening stages;- there were not many butchers on hand, »'«£ com-' petition was dull, some sheep being passed. Later, the demand improved 'considerably, though there were further periods of acpreciatiom - The market on the whole was very irregular. Prime handy-weight wethers brought up to 7Jd per lb>. prime heavy wethers to 6jd,' medium quality wethers'to 63, m«4iiii» ewes -4J& to'sd. and old ewes, of which there .were very few forward, up to 4d. Extra prirce heavy-weight wethers made .565, prime heavy 47s to 50a,. and medium 44s 9d. Heavy-weight ewes sold at 45s 9d, .prime 34b to 365, and light 27s to 335. 'V Store Cattle—There was a small yarding, only 120 head .being forward; which consisted mainly of rne3fum'.cows' and young cattle. On e pen of steers brought £6 19a, and another : of .eighteen-month-old animals sold at"£2,388. The. sahjVwas generally and by no jneans bright. Kgs—:The entry was-small, only seventeen fats being offered. The sale was a good one, and there was a rise of upwards of is 6d per head:.- Extr* heavy choppers sold at f4 88 to £6 17s, best baconers £i 5s to £5 te, and light baconers £3 15a to £4 2s 6d «uft? £*JM* *°J* Sa - Bkomm 9dper ft? P " fr ° m Bid *°

EGG AUCTION. Messrs Ktrris Bros., Ltd., report that the usual weekly auction sale of Feather Brand guaranteed fresh eggs on behalf of the Canterbury E|g Parmers* Co-operative Association, was held in their rooms, 158 Hereford street, yesterday afternoon. The following prices ware revised:— Hen egga, first grade •(2o* "or over); Is 7d; hen eggs, second grade (under, 2oz), ls_6d. , 6