CO-OPERATIVE SHEARING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 91, 11 January 1919, Page 10

CO-OPERATIVE SHEARING

. - AN . AUSTRALIAN SCHEME. ... It has been announced (says "The Australasian") . that the movement inaugurated by associations to-' .wards co-operative shearing is proving . Apparently it, is. not intend- . '.;;.ed'that all { shearing shall be carried but . ■-;■ on.'co-operative lines, the'scheme being.' .-intended to covsr in the meantime .shear-' 7"ing which'lias hitherto been carried out' by contract. Numbers- of pastoralists havo not installed plants on their sta- . tions, and they have found it convenient . to make a contract for. having the wool ' taken off and prepared for , market' atpound. " .This departure. from the (..early system' of every ..station employing -• nits own shearers was made some years 4.«f0,, Contract shearing appears to have • . given fairly general satisfaction; but the evidently 'see their way to imVproving on this system. The new coui- ; panies -will-be managed by directorates - of pastoralists and the shareholder will, ' of course, take any profit, either in dividend or in the saving on the cost of ■ ■the shearing; First; of all, the/charges will be just what will .cover administratis ve costs,-and the companies .will shear only, for shareholders. The proposition has a further object, which is set forth . in ..the general, conditions, f which, stata that the company is being formed for the '-ipurpose of' improving the' facilities to ..-shareholders for • the shearing of their sheep, and. for . tho organisation of tho availablo' labour to the best advantage; also for . the engagement of .general pastoral labour. Ihe companies are further ...V to have full power to-carry on business in various branches of utility to graziers and to- the grazing industry. Owners of • cattle may. become shareholders, a provision which indicates that it is intended to make pretty wide use of . the companies. No doubt the leading pastoraiists in the association see in the co-op-erative movement' a m«ans -<Jf bringing ■ N about a practical combination' of pastoralists, which;, should becoMe more ..solid, than the ordinary, association because of 'the business, consideration involved in the'-taking up of shares and the operations of the company. '