SHEARERS’ DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 247, 13 July 1921, Page 8

SHEARERS’ DISPUTE

A CONFERENCE DECLINED SHEEPOWNERS LEAVING CASE TO COURT Some recent correspondence between the Farmers and Sheepowners’ Federation and tho shearers’ unions was shown to a Dominion representative yesterday by Mr. C. Grayndlcr (secretary for tho shearers’ unions). "In accordance with tho pronouncement made by Mr. Justice Frazer on May 27 hist, viz., that tho shearers’ representatives and the sheepowners’ representatives should meet for tho purpose of arriving at an agreement covering wages and conditions for shearers, shod hands, cooks, experts, and crutchers,’’ said Mr. Grayndlcr, “I applied to the Sheepownors and Farmers.’ Federation on July 4 for a further conference. To this application I received the following reply:— I am instructed to advise you that taking into consideration the fact ' that a conference has already been bold with your union representatives with no result, and that the matter is down for hearing by the Arbitration Court in the course of a few weeks, my executive is of opinion that the questions covered in your letter should coino ‘before the Court at its sitting in Dunedin on July 20. Re your suggestion that the question of finally fixing rates for next season’s shearing should be left over until September, and vour statement that the wool market has a tendency for improvement: in view of no rise in wool values having taken, place as compared with sales in January last, this being the basis of values under consideration when our proposals were brought up at the conference, and Sir John Higgins’s estimate of the hold-over wool increasing, instead of showing a decrease, and the relatively small amounts being sold, I am instructed to state that no useful purpose could be served by postponing consideration of this question as suggested. In view of the fact that shearing begins in parts of the North Island m September it is desirable that the Court should deal with the question before that time. Re crutchers and experts: It would appear from the Courts decision that an award is not practicable, and my executive instructs me to state that Ravin„ considered the matter from every viewpoint with the object of endeavouring to meet the the Court re a classification be*ng made, it « of opinion that an attempt at classification would result in endloss confusion and that there is no possibility working under any other than the existing arrangement. (Signed) W. H. NICHOLSON Secretary. Sheepowners and 1 aimers’ Federation.

"Ul I have to say in reply to that r* ” said Mr Gravndler, commenting 1 o the letter "is that seeing the emmeant W -e of the phrase "crude methods.’* COMMERCIAL ITEMS INVESTMENT SHARES. “i,, ’sysU:" I '™. ™<i““

(pref.) CUSTOMS REVENUE. Customs revenue collected at the ROri of Wellington yesterday totalled £2163 17s. 7d. CAPITAL OF UNION BANK. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, July 9. The Union Bank is proposing to incr™ e its capital to £9.000.060. EXCHANGE RATES. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. July 12, 11.35 p.m.) London. Juy IL rv,r<>in-n exchange rates on London are fellow— Paris 46£5 francs to W.O9 kroner; Christiania. kroner; Copenhagen, ,22 53 kroner; Berlin. 284 niarke; Montreal. 4.16 b4w York, 3.63 dollars: Calcutta, 15|d to urpoe; Yokohama.. WT. co yen, Hong Kong, 31Jd to dollar. PRICES OF METALS. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association (Rec. July 12,'9.20 p.m.) London, July 11. Copper.-On spot, and forward delivery, s P wt.£23 2s. 6d. per ton; for£26 17a. 6d. per ton; ton; forW Ml d ver e -BS fzd/por'ounce standard.

Buyers. £ s. d. sellers. £ B. d. Inscribed 5J v.c., 1933 — 91 0 0 War Bonds. 61 p-c-. 1934 9 ft Bank Australasia- ... 2 7 9 Bank New Zealand 4 J 84 10 0 2 8 9 13 2 6 Union Bank ,•••••; 1 r 6 Goldsbrough Mort 1 B 0 10 o Well. Investment _ 12 0 Auckland ; _ 0 15 6 National Insurance ■■■■■. 115 6 South British _ N.Z. Refrigerating (±1) 3 1 10 0 1 13 0 Huddart-Parker (ord.) ... « ? 2 4 6 16 6 Kaia-poi Woollen 1 7 3 Westport Coal 0 7 8 Westport-Stockton ••••••••• 0 « 9 Westport-Stockton (pref.) 0 9 J 0 11 0 Waipa Coal ° « 9 Howard Smith J 1 ’ Paper Mills (rights) ... 0 1 0 0 12 Wairarapa Farmers o 18 e