SHEARERS’ WAGES UP

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 259, 29 July 1937, Page 8

SHEARERS’ WAGES UP

Rates Fixed For 1937-38 Season SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES AGREED UPON Wage rates for shearers ami shed hands throughout the Dominion for the 1937-38 season were fixed by a committee which mot in Wellington on Tuesday in accordance with provisions of the award made in August, 1936. The committee this year consisted of Mr. J. W. Butcher, the Government Statistician; Mr. W. 11. Nicholson, secretary of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation; and Mr. A. Cook, representing the shearers’ unions. The new rates represent substantial increases. Machine shearers will receive £l/14/- a hundred, as against £1 7/- previously, and hand shearers £l. 16/6, as against £l/9/6. Other wage rates are proportionately increased. The Government Statistician’s index number for export prices of greasy wool calculated for the 12 mouths ended June 30, 1936, was taken as equal to 1000, and it was found that the index number for the 12 months ended June 30, 1937, was 1700. Shearers. The rate for shearing by machines shall be not less than 34/- per 100 with rations. The,rate for shearing lambs shall be not less than 34/- per 100 with rations. The rate for shearing by hand shall be not less than 36/6 per .100 with rations. In cases where shearers find themselves in rations, an allowance of 4/- per day shall be made. The rate for shearing stud and hogget rams shall be rate and a half, and for other rams, double ordinary rates. Shed Hands. Bressers: By the week, £5/1/-; by the hour, 2/9. i All other shed hands: By the week. £4/11/-: by the hour, 2/7. Cooks. For 12 men or under, at the rate of £5/11/- per week, or 2.1/- per day, if employed for less than seven days. (Where over twelve men are employed, the wages shall be increased by 2/6 per week for each additional man Required to be cooked for, and where the number exceeds 18, an assistant shall be employed, and where over 28 men are employed, the rate shall be by mutual agreement.) Cooks’ Assistants. At the rate of £4/16/- per week, or 17/4 per day, if employed for less than seven days. Rations. Each worker shall be provided with rations by his employer. In any ease where it is agreed between the employer and the worker that the worker shall provide his own rations, he shall be paid nt the rate o£ 4/- per day, in addition to the rates hereinbefore prescribed.