THE EARNINGS OF SHEARERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 879, 27 July 1910, Page 8

THE EARNINGS OF SHEARERS.

• .£8 TO .£l2 A WEEK. As "Shearers' Dispute" 'is on the New Zealander's menu nearly every day lately, the following, from the'"Pastoralists' Beview" (Melbourne), "is"' interesting:— "The question will no doubt shortly come before the Federal. Arbitration Court',, or State Industrial Courts, of the conditions of shearers and pastoralists, and in view of the demands made by the representatives of the former at tho recent abortive'conference'there is sure to bo a great deal of discussion on the question as to-what constitutes a reasonable recompense for a shearer's labour. Those who read the evidence and the award in the case which''was heard.before Mr. Justice O'Connor'in 1907, will remember what was said as to the average earnings of shearers, which, though actual figures to the contrary were, produced on behalf of the pastoralists, were claimed' to be so low as to make it impossible for the dowu-trodden shearer to make a. living at all on the rates previously paid. It is 'interesting, in view of statements- then' made- which largely influehced the'-court' in-• its decisions, to get the independent evidence of shearers, and this was forthcoming last month in the hearing of a case before one of the jury courts:in Sydney. A' witness, who described himself as an expert shearer; said he could ideal.with. 150 or.lGO sheep in. a. day of eight and a half or nine hours, and could earn up to £& or .£9 a week. This was six years ago— before the.-present award—and presuui-. ablv- he' could now earn another .£1 awee'k' at least. Incidentally lie mentioned that .he ■ earned .£l2 as a shearer's cook, after' paying £i . a week for an assistant, which .also is interesting reading in view of the exorbitant demands for all kinds of pastoral labour now being made. This evidence was on oath, and presumably incontrovertible, and if 'it were given before the Arbitration Court would, no doubt, carry great weight. Bu>. it is one.thing to give- evidence in si R-gulai court of law, -and another to give evi-' deuce before 1 an Arbitration Court. The point of view is so different."