WAR EXEMPTIONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3111, 15 June 1917, Page 6

WAR EXEMPTIONS

SHEARERS' CASES EVIDENCE BY SHEEP-OWNERS LEAVE FOR SINGLE MEN NOT DESIRED LJiiesli:.-, • cuiitoniing appeals for the exemptiuii »i shearers drawn in tho military ballots were discussed at great length yesterday by the First Wellington -Military Service Hoard. The members of the board arc: -Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M. (chairman). Mr. D. M'laven, and Mr. W. Perry. The military representative with the board is Captain Walker.

Appeals wcro on the list for Colin Angus Lovell, sheep-shearer, Wellington, and Joseph Dillon, shearer and farmhand. Mr. Grayndler, the Secretary of the Agricultural and Pastoral "Union, appeared in support of these appeals.

Captain Walker said he proposed lo call further evidence on the question of how es-eiiti:ii sheep-shearers are. In the case of Lovell he was only engaged in shearing tor three or four months of the year, and for the balance of the year in digging ditches.

Captain Walker read to the hoard the resolution, of the New Zealand Sheepowners and Farmers' Federation, to the elfeut that they did not desire that First Division shearers should bo exempted in every case; that the older men and strong lads could do the work.

Mr. M'l.aren said the resolution was made by a council and not by a conference. Because tho council held tho opinion expressed in the resolution all the units of the organisation might not.

Captain Walker replied that the resolution was passed by representative men. Captain Walker said ho was anxious to got men for the Army, and he had contended nil along that no man should bo exempted unless he came within Section 18 of the Act. He would strongly oppose the exemption of men unless the sending of them was contrary to public interest, or an undue hardship.

A Sheep-farmer's Evidence. Captain Walker called Alexander Donald iL'iitoil, farmer, Martinborough, who said he liad 51)00 or COOO sheep for shearing every year. Captain Walker:. You attended the council at which the resolution referred to was piifSccLi* Mr. M'Leod said that ho did, and that meeting consisted of representatives of sheep-owner*' organisations in Canterbury. Otngo, Marlborough, Southland, liawke's Hay, Wellington, and Wanganui. The resolution was agreed on unanimously. Captain Walker: Are you an employer of shearers? Mr. M'Leod : Yes, for over twenty years. Who do you generally employ ?—"Local men." Do they do anything but shearing?— "Yes, some do the crutching later in tho season, and also the dagging." On the general question of the exemption of First Division shearers, what is you opinion?—"We realise that sheepshearing alono is not the only problem we are up against. There will Be great difficulties in getting through tho shearing as we were previously accustomed to. The shearing season will have to to lengthened, and the holding back of a number of First Division men is not going to materially ease the position.''

Will yon say that if they are taken it will seriously interfere with the Wool industry?—"My own personal opiniou is that if will not."

What is your experience is regard to youths' shearing?— It depends a good deal on the youths. Young fellows brought up in tho country do not take long to lcnrii shearing. Unless a lad was particularly robust I would pat 100 sheep a day as his limit. Perhaps for the first day or two he might not do fifteen. Alter six weeks he ought to do 75 lo 100 a day."

Mr. M'Karen: is that tho average boy, or one well set up?—"J. should say he would li.uo lo l>o welt set up."

Air. .M'fiuren: What of tlie urvragu hul? —"1 lime known lads to get over 100 sheep in their first season." ilr. M'Laron: U hey were the exception? —"Weil, yes."

Mr. Ji'Laren: We want to gel at the averager—"l should say 75."

Cap ain Walker: In -New Zealand tnero mu=. ..- many men who retired from shear.:,g work.—"Quito a number." Would, they be prepared to shear again? —"1 cannot'say." Did tho shearer in peace time usually select the Bmall backblock sheds or tho others?—"He generally went to tho placo where- there was tho best shed accommodation for sheep."

Ami what iliil the backblocks men do? —"After the rush was over the professional shearers probably went buck to the .smaller stations."

What of Next Shearing Season? Mr. tirayndler asked if Mr. M'Leod was a ware that on tlie day Sir James Wilson moved the resolution his sou appealed at l'almerston North lor tlie exemption of a shearer. Mr. M'Leod said he had heard it. Captain Walker: There was another ground. The man was a ploughman, too. Mr. Grayndler said that he wished to ask questions to show that the Sheepowners' Federation had an ulterior motive in passing the resolution referred to, and that that motive was inspired by antagonism to the A.P.U. Mr. M'Leod said that personally he had had no such motive. Jlr. Urayndler: Are you aware that Mr. Vavasour," of Marlborough, has been advocating tho exemption of 13,000 agricultural workers? Mr. M'Leod: No. Mr. Grayndler: Mr. Vavasour was present at the meeting at which that resolution was passed?—" Yes, he was." Mr. Grayndler asked, if the sheep-own-ers had a representative in Australia who was engaging men for them for next shearing season and offering to pay fares here and back. Ml'. M'Leod said the Sheep-owners Federation was not doing that, nor were the farmers. Mr. Grayndler: Is there not an agent of your body engaging shearers in Australia? Mr. M'Leod: No. It may bo that individual associations are doiiig it?—" Yes, it could bo (say) Ota»o or Marlborough, but I don't know anything of their business." If men iave been engaged in Australia, and their fares both ways havo been guaranteed, sheep-owners must reckon there will be a big shortage of shearers hero next vear?—"l know thero is a certain amount of nervousness about gettiiif the work done. Most of us start shearin" at the beginning of November and get cut out before Christmas, but we now reckon we may havo to start at tho beginning of October and run on into January." , Is the bulk of the Hawke s Bay shearing done by white shearers ?-"From what I have heard I should say (roughly) most of it is done'by Maoris." Then tho Hawke's Bay sheds will not be seriously affected if the resolution of the federation is given effect to. How long would it take five unexperienced shearers «a got through your 5000 or 6000 sheep?—"Oh, twice as long as before." Do you think it would bo in the interests of the country to havo only inexperienced men to do tlie. work? Would tho imperial Government suffer? Mould the country suffer?-"l can't say it would to any great extent." My experience is that wuol shorn by inexperienced men is so cut about that it is not worth twopence per pound?— "1 have found that sometimes the man who does 200 a day is as big a. sinner that way as tho beginner." Captain Walker: How many sheep would an expert man do in a week? Mr. M'Leod: I should say GOO slice)). Then live experienced men would cut your 5000 or 0000 sheep out in two weeks? And if you had (o get all inexperienced men to do the work it would take double that time?—" Yes." A matter of two weeks ?—"Yes." Mr. Perry: Is it within your knowledge that the farmers from the start of tlie ballots have been against the exemption of the itinerant shearer as a body? Mr. M'Leod: I think the opinion of tho farmers is expressed in that resolution. Mr. Perry. Right from tho start of the ballots? Mr, M'Leod: Yes, .Our opinion, js that

shearers should not be specially exempted. We have found that shearing seasons have boon got through all right, and that it only means the lengthening of the season.

Shearing Done by Maoris. John Horace Douglas Itutledge. sheep farmer, near Capo Jtwnaivay, said that last year he had 11000 o<ld sheep shorn by machinery. JJe knew the conditions in tho Waiapu and eastern Bay of Plenty districts, and at least 100,000 sheep were shorn tjiero. Tho owners of sheep in tlioso districts had found no insurmountable difficulty iu getting their sheep shorn. Host of the shearers there were Maoris, and the shearing now was douo mostly by married men and older men. Getting- shepherds presented a much greater difficulty than getting shearers, but the Maoris helped in this matter also.

Mr. Grayndler: How many men would it*take to shear those 100,000 sheep in voiw district? " Mr. Ku Hedge: That is difficult lo say. How many did it take lest year?—"l should say they did :i(H)0 lo 1000 per man." , That would be Ih'rly shearers, rough-lT?-"Yes." . 'Would Ihev lie all Maons?-"\es. Po that this question of exemption of European shearers does not affect your district■?—" Not in the least." Mr. Grayndler: I can't see that it is possible lo throw any lijrht on this matter by examining a witness from a district which is not affected. Captain Walker: Can yoiii produce witnesses from the districts which will ho affected? ... Mr. Perrv: What was the position in these districts before the war as regards Maoris or whites doing tho work? Mr. Itutledge: Tho position was the same. ... Mr. Grayndler then save evidence in support of the appeals of I/ovell and Dillon, both of whom, he said, weTe bona fido shearers. If these men could be done without, so could all other shearers in New Zealand. , Captain Walker: That is a fairly dangerous statement to make.

I Men from Australia? I Mr. Grayndler expressed the opinion that all shearers in the First Division should be given similar treatment. Ho had appealed in the first instance for shearers on the instructions of tho Defence Minister, who considered shearing to be an essential industry. It was only on account of fhe Farmers' "Union in tho country that tho shearers' cases were being reconsidered. Ho was sure there were not enough shearers in New Zealand. Also, Australian shearers had been engaged to come over here this season. The chairman: You have brought no evidence to that effect. Mr Gravndler: I will, though—by producing letters from men who have been engaged. . . ~ .', Captain Walker: Are they coming. Mr. Gravndler: I think not. The chairman said that even in the ordinary course farmers here would probably re-engage good' shearers who had been here in other seasons. Mr. Grayndler: Yes, but in other seasons they never offered them their fares here and back again. Mr Grayndler said it was ridiculous to' talk of' the old men and boys doing the shearing. The chairman: The demand for men is now so great that farmers will have to put up with tho shearing bcm 2 done that way, and they seem willing to put up with it. . . ~ Mr Grayndler: We have no objection to men coming from Australia so long as they, do not give thorn advantages over our men. ... Captain Walker: Can toil sec anything wrong with men coming here to release men for the war? Mr. Graviidler: >.o, but the unfit and ineligible shearers hero should be allowed to do the same-to go to Australia and follow their occupation. Captain Walker' Is not that a matter for you to put tp tho Minister? Mr. Grayndler: I have put ic up to him. tl Did lie agree?—"ko. „ Did yom say ineligible men?- -No. That, then, makes tho difference— "Yes." , . , , , Why <lo the shearers object to go to the front ?-"They don't object More shearers than others have volunteered. But those who remain. Why do they appeal when the men interested in their services say they don't need their services »—"I contend they don't say that. Captain Walker read the letter Mr. Grayndler had from the Minister. It was dated December i, 1910, and Captain Walker said was not an 'instruction to appeal, but an "authority" to appear in the same way as an employer would. Mr. Grayndler suggested that the shearers' cases should be adjourned till tho First Division was exhausted and meantime he would be able to supply the figures asked for. Captain Walker: r don't think it would be fair to do that. Mr Gravndler: When do you propose r.o reveiw the shearers', cases which have been adjourned sine die? AVill it be a month ? . The chairman: T think so. The decision of the board was reserved. _^______