WORK AND WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 12928, 26 September 1906, Page 8

WORK AND WAGES.

" • -■■ - ■ ■+ : SHEARING AGREEMENT. An agreement has been arrived at between tlie Otago Sheepowners' Union and the Otago Shearers' Union, and will remain in force till March 31, 1308. It provides, inter alia : — ■ ■ That the price for shearing by machine or hand be 16s. 8d per 100, with rations". In cases where shearers find themselves, the price to be at the rate of | 3s 4d per 100 extra; the rate for stud ' sheep to be as per arrangement. That the price of shearing hogget rams be rate and a-half; other rams, double ordinary rate. That no shearer be compelled to shear eancered sheep. That the employer shall have full control of his shearing operations, except in matters provided for in this agreement. That a representative be elected by -the shearers,' Such representative and the person in charge of the shed to be the responsible persons to settle disputes. In the event of a. dispute arising as to wet sheep, the shed manager may take a vote by ballot—the parsons entitled to vote being the. shearers, with the exception of the shearers'.representative (who shall not vote except in case of a tie), the shed manager, and wool-classer; the - majority to rule.. Provided the owner, in case he considers the sheep too wet, shall be at liberty to turn thera out. Any person absenting himself from work 'without-leave, or without proper reasonable grounds, or found briuging intoxicants on to the station, may be treated by the employer as having committed a breach of this agreement. No employer shall, in the engagement or dismissal of men, discriminate against members of the union, nor do anything for. the\ purpose of injuring,. the union, - -whether directly or indirectly.; provided that nothing in this awnrd shall interfere with the right of the employer to discharge any shearer, at any time * |or .saca incamijeteiioir or misconduct as

would justify such discharge under the general law. When members of the union and nonmembers are employed together there shall be no discrimination between members and non-members, and both shall work together in harmonv, and shall receive equal pay for .cquai work. A STONE-CRUSHER A FACTORY. The Gisborne Borough Council were fined 10s yesterday for railing to register the borough stone-crusher as a factory. The inspector stated that he had seen three men working at the crasher, while the Council claimed there was only one so engaged, that the work performed was not a handicraft, and that to make the Council liable-it must be shown that tho work oarne within subsection 5 of subsection 2--of the -Factories Act. ..Mr Coleman, for the defence, said that if a stone-crusher was a factory, every person who ; employed a typewriter, or broke stones on the road, would have to ■register. • Mr Barton said he was of opinion that the place would come within the definition of a factory.