SCARCITY OF GOOD SHEARERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1145, 5 June 1911, Page 8

SCARCITY OF GOOD SHEARERS.

"GET YOUNG MEN IN TOWN TO ' LEAKN." ' Recently Mr. J. G. Wilson, president , of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, wrote to the Olago A. and P. Society on 'the .subject of classes conducted by the ' Technical Schools for shearers, and stated that every year good shi'arcrs in this Dominion were getting scarcer, and that fdieep-fai'mcrs in New Zealand were to a large extent dependent upon the Australian shearers, \y!:u might or might not come. The writer pointed out that shearing was so easily learned and so well paid for that I here should bo no difficulty—if tho opportunity were given— to get many young men in town to learn, and so benefit themselves by gelling work at shearing, which wouid also be to the advantage of tho sheep-owners. He pointed out I hat classes h?.d boeii started in Christehnrch, and were quite successful, where, by the . generosity ot the A. and I'. Association, owners,'am! the Sheep-breeders' Association, funds ' were nrovided. .Mr. Wilson said he would urge 'the society to go into the matter and tVy to get classes begun next spring, as it was of great imnorta'nce that" such an opportunity should be afforded to . learn shearing. Learners, now that machines were being so much used, were almost a thing of the pas! in urivate sheds. Hitherto the "flcece-ohs'' were able (o learn by shearing a sheen in the "smokeohs" and at meal (imas. This was impossible now, as the engines were not then going. He therefore asked the society, in the interests of the workers and Hie sheen-owners, to try to .tppiu-p «h/>armi> classes in 'connection with the Technical Schools. The "Otago Daily Times" renorts that after a discussion the letter was referred to the Sheep Committee for report, li; fecretery in the meantime to ascertain how the proposal worked in Canterbury, and further, to obtain any information available. t ' i