Shearers stop work

Press, 2 September 1977, Page 3

Shearers stop work

Shearers stopped work on Leslie Hills station, about 19 km from Culverden, yesterday.

It is believed that dissatisfaction with certain aspects of shed and accommodation standards was the! reason.

Mr D. H. Rutherford,! whose nephew, Mr D. L. Rutherford, now runs the 1 3360 ha property, said last : evening that a gang of four; shearers had started to pre- 1 lamb shear about 7000 sheep j only yesterday morning. Apparently the shearers! had got a “union man” out, and had stopped work at midday, he said. While he was not pre-; pared to comment on the reason for the stoppage, Mr! Rutherford said that the. start of the shearing had already been held up for 10 to I 14 days and any further! delay now would be critical; as the sheep would begin to lamb in a week or two. Leslie Hills carries about l 7000 sheep and 700 cattle. I

Mr M. R. Barnett, a member of the council of the Sheepowners’ Union, said last evening that he had been advised of the stoppage by the Workers’ Union and that union and also Health and Labour Depariment representatives would go to the property today. He had been told that it w'ould only be fair that the employers should also be represented, and Mr R. P. Steele, chairman of the Amuri branch of Federated Farmers, would represent him.

Mr Barnett was not prepared to comment until he had heard a report from his representative.