SHEARING DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1070, 8 March 1911, Page 5

SHEARING DISPUTE.

THE SHED HANDS. SOME STATISTICAL EVIDENCE. Following upon the making of au award for shearers several months ago, the Shearers' Union is now seeking an award for shed hands. At the Arbitration Court yesterday morning, Mr. 31. Laracy represented the union, mid Mr. W. Pryor the employers. The case was formally confined to the Wellington district, ns tho Court has no power to make a Dominion award, but it was understood that tho terms to 1)0 setiled here would be subsequently embodied in awards covering Hie whole of New Zealand. The union demanded .£2 a week and found for shed hands of all descriptions, excluding tlioso who are permanent farm or station hands. Mr. Laracy agreed to put in a copy of all the evidence taken at Christchurch. lie did not call fresh evidence.

Frederick I*l übert~Labatt, called by Mr. Pryor, said he was an accountant at Ch'risteluirch, and secretary of the New Zealand Sheopowners' Federation, submitted .statistical information obtained from returns of 130 sheds in tho Wellington Industrial District. In those sheds 588 hands (apart from shearers) were employed, 275 being permanent station hands and 333 casual employees, being 4G.70 and 53.2-1 per cent, respectively. Of the SSS hands, 492 were "found" by the employees, and 9B "found" themselves. Pressors were paiil ss. to 10>. per day (average 7s. Bd.), £1 and upwards per week (average SOs. (id.), or per bale, average Is. id. Flcece-pickors wero paid in different cases by the week, the day, and the hour, tho averages being respectively -30.;. Cd., (Is. lid., and Is. Woolrollera' pay ranged from 255. to 40s. per week (455. in one ease). When paid by the hour the average was Is. an hour. The men were "found" in most eases. Cooks were paid ss. lOd. to lo>. per day (average u>. Gd.), or 265. lo GOs. per week (average 41s. 9d.). Dag cutlers and other hands'averaged Ss- Id. per day, or 255. to Mis. per week (00s. in one case), averaging !Ss. 10d. In five sheds they were paid by the hour, at Is. an hour. The inquiries were addressed to all members of tho federation who would be affected by the Wellington award, and there was no selection among the replies. The number of hhccpnwners in the Wellington district, including Wanganni, liangitikei, and Wairarapa, was 4liOS, of which nnmbor tOM or SS.S2 per cent, owned flocks of 2500 i-hoop and under. There wero in the Dominion 21.SJS slicenowners, of whom l!),!lf)9 (ill per cent.) owned 2500 sheep and under.

Mr. Laracy cross-examined the witness wilh a view to showing that tho sources of the statistics were too limited to make them of value.

Mr. Prynr said the Kew Zealand Farmers' tJuion was joined as a. parly, but he submitted that this could not be done, as the union was not 'registered under Uio Act. Members wero also cited separately. In reply to the president, Mr. Pryor said ho would probablv wish to call evidence at other places, lie also said that the employers had not framed any proposals, as they hoped to demonstrate to the Court that no award was required.

Tim president advised him nor to nnticipalc Unit. The employers should in their own interest submit terms and thus assitt tho Coiivt.

Mr. I'r.vor said this would bo rouo into liy ;i conference of (ho employers. Ho hoped Ifl assist the Court ir._ every possible way, ami he would point out that all the evidence of value had been submitted by them. They did not want to He themselves down by stalinß terms.

His ilonour said tlio case would bo further hoard at P.ilmcrston N6rt.li, Wajiganni, aad NaDicr.