SHEARERS AND THE NEW AWARD

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 301, 14 September 1921, Page 4

SHEARERS AND THE NEW AWARD

WORKERS’ UNION INTERVENES MEN ADVISED TO REFUSE \ ENGAGEMENTS INDIFFERENT TO PUBLIC’S VIEW The executive of the New Zealand Workers’ Union has advised the general secretary (Mr. C. Grayndler) to notify all shearers and shed hands to refrain from making engagements under the Arbitration Court’s recent shearers’ award. According to “The Dominion’s” informant, the ' shearers cannot 4, be compelled to leave their winter occupations.

Mr. Grayndler made a statement to a Dominion reporter last night, as secretary of tho New Zealand Makers’ Union. He said that his council hod been definite in their instructions, whi.?ii meant that the Courts decision had c-rented Dominion-wide consternation in shearers’ circles, “’this is not surprising,” added Mr. Grayndler. “It is immaterial to us whether the public consider this attitude tantamount to a strike or not. If it is, the Judge of the Arbitration Court is responsible for it. I feel sure the shearers have the backing of Mr. M’Cullough." The attitude of the shearers will affect the whole of New Zealand. “The shearing industry cannot afford to bo held up for n fortnight,” said Mr. Grayndler. "If tho present determination of tho shearers lasts for a month, tho shoepownors (will bo compellKt to capitulate.” SHEARERS DISCONTENTED. Since the announcement of the terms of the new shearers’ award, the.fixing of which led to the retirement iif the Labour member of the Arbitration Court (Mr. J. A. M'Cullough), there has been marked discontent among shearers. Many of these men work at different jobs during tho winter months, and usually leave their casual work at the beginning of the shearing season. _ During jblic Arbitration Court s healing ot the claims, in Wellington, the union’s advocate (Mr. Grayndler) intimated that in all probability the shearers would not respond, to the call were the rates lowered in any way. However, the Court—with the exception of Mr. M Cullough—held that the employers . had proved their statements that tho industry was in a bad condition, and that an all-round decrease in shearers’ rates was necessary. / SHEEP-OWNERS’ YffewS. A 1 featherston sheep-owner was interviewed by telephone by a Dominion reporter last night. He was not in the least surprised at Mr. GrayndlerK annouucement. r, Let .them go aheiid, he said. "They will find that it is very hard to maintain their high-handed attitudes on empty stomachs. We have done our best for them in the past. When war prices brought us extra profits we had no hesitation in giving them higher wages." \ . Another farmer, at present visiting Wellington, said that /aamicrs could always help one another. They were not in tho least, scared by the shearers. "Wait until my family and my neighbour’s get going,” hc'said. '.'We’ll show shearers what work really is. I have offers now from neighbours, and I have made similar offers to them. We 11 have a good old shearing.'bee.' He added that in the South Island, many high schoolboys would assist materially with the operations during their holidays.