SHEARING NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 December 1907, Page 2

SHEARING NOTES.

Lamb shearing in a number of Wairarapa sheds will commenco after the New Year (writes our correspondent). Lambs cut about three pounds of wool, and their yield in tho clip is an important item. At one time there was a shibboleth that machine-shearing injuriously _ affected tho growth of tho Wool; but*this idea has bcon proved to bo a misconception. At lea station, Wairarapa, for instance, tho increase of wool cut by the machines at tho first installation was fifty bales, which paid seven times over for the cost of the ue\tr. machinery. There

has been no perceptible decrease since thilt, time, three years ago. On the contrary, in the present season, thore has been a bigger clip than in the previous year, and from a, fewer number of sheep. A well-known shearer, who has been in a number of sheds and is now approaching his 10,000 tally, states that the clips this year aro heavier at all the stations, both in the Wairarapa and Manawatu districts. The rules outlined by the Shearers' Union to prevent mutilation of the sheep q.fc the : hands of undisciplined or careless workmen are necessary, especially when the "blades" aro in operation. When men arc racing with tho "blades,," many.a poor sheep is-slashed and cut until it dies from loss of blood. There is little of this sort of thing , with machine shearing, but it sometimes happens when an inexperienced man tries to' keep going with the "ringer." There was a case' some weeks ago on a Wairarapa station, where a slow man attempted to " go down every time with the "ringer." The sheep ; suffered; and the climax was # reached ; when! the novice tried conclusions with an obstreperous lamb, and in'"a" fit of excitement: tried, to gouge the animal's eye out with a bradawl which happened to be lying about. It, may be explained that there is nothing gentle or per.ceable about .lambs , in a shearing-shed. They a.re so small, and' they wriggle and kick ■ and fight, and the', giants of shearers, who could' easily holdrull:grown sheep, aro ofton placed on the' horns of a dilemma. No matter how-they, try, they cannot hold the . woolly infants, and the struggle goes on to a muttered accompaniment of strong swear words and agonised bleats. There is thus, an excuse for a shearer losing his temper,- but lie should not go too far. Tho particular shearer before referred to overstepped the bounds, and, being observed by the manager, of tho shed, he was dismissed 011 the spot. It is believed amongst shearers that; as'ai. result of the Government inspectkm of the accommodation of shearing whares, ' many, omployers will have to make a radical improvement in the cpndition of things.. There is 110 doubt that there have been great- improvements in the accommodation of late years'. It is a fact, however, that'there are many exceptions, all of which are to bo dealt with in the inspectors' reports, -