SHEARING RATES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 85, 20 October 1928, Page 11

SHEARING RATES

AGREEMENT REACHED NEW PRINCIPLE INVOLVED A new principle, which embodies payment in accordance with the ability ot the industry to meet costs, forma the basis of an agreement arrived at baj tween the New Zealand Sheep Owners' Federation and the New Zealand Work> ers' Union concerning the rated wkicit are to be paid to shearers and shed hands. The agreement was come to all a conference at Wellington yesterday afternoon. The agreement, which is to be embodied in the existing award, as ai basis for the calculation of wages fo^ three years, provides:— "(a) For the current season and foi? two seasons thereafter'; the ratea £6% shearers and shed hands shall be adjusted in accordance with the movement of wool prices, as determined by the Government Statistician's index num.* bers for export prices of wool (calcii* lated for June years), taking as! a basa a price index number of 1800 for the present year equals 30s per 100 for? shearers, and the rates prescribed in the 192G award for shed hands, plus 2J& per hour for hourly hands, or 7s 6d pet week for weekly hands. A movement of 50 units in the index number up olj down shall equal 6d per 100 for shear* ers, and £d per hour or Is 6d per weelt for shed hands, provided that the rata per 100 shall not fall below 255, and the rate for shed hands.shaii not be reduced more than 2^d per hour below the 1926 award rates. All movements of the index numbers shall be calc'uiafced to the nearest 50 units above or below the base. "(b) The rates for youths for tht three years of this agreement shall be fixed at Is 8d per h6ur> or &2 12g 6d per week, and shall not be Subject to any variation on the basis set out .in this agreement. "(e) The determination of the inde» number for each year shall be, the work of a committee consisting o:E tha Government Statistician, and one representative each of the Employers' and the Shearers' Unions, This committee not later than ihe flrst day of Octbber in each year, shall announce the in* dcx number and the rates of pay for tha forthcoming season. '' (d) A joint application shall ba made to the Court of Arbitration tit amend the awards, embodying the fore* going agreement to operate as from the. day of the date hereof." At the conference,' the sheepowxieri were represented by Messrs; EL :D; Acland (president of the Sheep Owners' Federation), who acted as chairinanj W. H. Nicholson (secretary of tha Sheep Owners' Federation), 8.. JL Morten (Canterbury), IL Morison (Wairarapa), IL Dalrymple (Eangitikei); A. V, S. Reed (Hawkes Bay), and A< Ma 6« farlane (Wanganui). The workers were represented at the conference by Messrs. C; E. Baldwin (Canterbury), A. Cook (secretary of tha Workers' Union), J. Whytc (Easfc Coast)j J. Townsend (Otago), and. J. Anderson (Marlborough). The New 2ea« land Employers' Federation was represented by Messrs. T. O. Bishop and W. C. Prime, and the Alliance of Lab* our by Messrs. L. Glover aid J. Rob« e'rts. The Government Statistician's indej^ number of wool prices, which are as f ol« low, will give a clear indication of hoii; the hew agreement will operate:-— • lilclex number Shearing ..' of rate. wool prices^ s. d. 1300 ......i. 25 0 1350 23 6 1400 26 0 1450 26 G 1500 27 O .1550 27 6 1600 28 0 1650 .t 28 6 1700 „....i. 29 0 1750 „ 29 6 3800 .;.■.*.;» 30 0 l: ISSO i..4*.n 30 6 1000 i t.' 31 0 1950 31 C 2000 i..^.a. 32 0 2050 32 6 2100 ....<...■ 33 0 2150 vi.L... 33 6 2200 .a..i4. 34 0 2250 ...i.a. 34 6 2300 *t;....i 35 O *Bate this season*