SHEARERS’ AWARD

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 249, 17 July 1937, Page 13

SHEARERS’ AWARD

Are All Farmers Bound? The hours worked by shearers were discussed briefly by tbe New Zealand Farmers’ Union at its annual conference. yesterday. Mr. A. Briscoe Moore (Auckland) said that the prohibition of Saturday afternoon work added greatly to farmers’ troubles and was against the interests of the shearers themselves. Toward tbe eml of last season the Minister bad lifted the restriction; the union should try to have it removed permanently. In seed-infested areas particularly, where it was necessary to do the shearing as early as possible in order to avoid damage to the wool, delay caused by the restriction might have serious results. The president, Mr. W. W. Mulholland, said he understood that farmers who were not members of the Sheepowners’ Federation were not bound by the shearers’ award, as they had not been parties to the agreement. A delegate stated that the Minister had held that all farmers were affected. It was decided to inquire what districts or individuals are bound by the award. If it is found that certain 1 sections are bound, although they were not represented in the negotiations leading to the agreement, the union will press for representation on their behalf. It was also resolved: “That the union exert the utmost pressure to ensure that tbe fullest hours be permitted. including Saturday afternoon, in view of the loss caused by curtailment of hours in seed-infested areas.”