THE SHEARING AGREEMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 493, 11 February 1908, Page 4

THE SHEARING AGREEMENT.

FULL TEXT OF REVISED CONDITIONS. The Manawatu Daily Times to-day gives the -mended demands of shearers and farmers, and declares that these are the conditions under which shearing will be done for the next two years, though there may be some verbal changes by the Conciliation Board, which will have to pass the agreement on to the Arbitration Court to secure the force of an award. The following is the Jist : — . That the sh/jarer shall shear with all reasonable despatch the sheep the employer or his agent requireis him to shear (the approximate number of which shall be agreed upon between the employer or his agent and the shearer's representative before the commencement of shearing) in good time and workmanlike manner, aud to the satisfaction of the employer or hia agent. 2. The hours of shearing shall be as mutually agreed upon between the shed-manager and the shearers' representative. Cut outs to be also agreed upon between the shearers' representative and employer or agent. 3. The price for shearing by machine or hand to bo £1 per hundred, with rations. In cases where it :s agreed shearers find themselves, the price to be at the rate of 2s 6d per hundred extra. Tbe rate for stud sheep to be as per arrangement. Ail sheep to be dagged. Sheep dagged three weeks prior te commencement of shearing to be considered as clean sheep. A maximum of 15 per cent, allowed for sheep that have been missed. 4. That the price for shearing rams two tooth and over be double rates. 5. Once in each week, on a day to be nam«d by the employer or his representative at the commencement ot shearing, the employer shall, at the request of any shearer, pay to suo.M shearer or his order, any sum not exceeding 75 per cent, of the amount then due to him, as a progress payment, such money may be pawl by cheque or by order, and, if such cheque be not upon a local bank, exchange shall be added; a cheque required by a shearer in order to oe sent to a place on which it is drawn shall bo deemed a cheque on a local 8 6. All sheep shorn shall be paid for in full, subject to payments already made and to sums due to the employer, at the end ot the .hearing: Provided that a shearer or his admiuistrator shall he paid on the tcrnnnation of his employment, if .it sha li have terminated through his death, or illness, or illness in his family. 7. That no shearer be compelled t-» shear canceled sheen. 8. Employers sliall b . h^ ve t * h ® he U p ro - vifio t ns°of C< this oag0 agr S eement) of their shearing sheds, .and may mak .such rales for the necessary and P™pe r management thereof as they may deem e T_at a representative be elected by the shearers engaged, _ such representative and the person in charge of he fe to be the responsible persons to settle disputes. i Prov ded the owner or person in charge of the shea if ie considers the sheep too wet may turn them out. , , 10. That no shearer enter a catch-hic-nen after the bell rings. f1 P All sheep shall be taken carefully from the catching-pen, and no sheep shall be legged out unless with the permission of the person m charge of the shep. No shearer shall kicfor ill-treat W sheep. In case a shearer turns- out a sheep badly cut or insufficiently tarrcd 3 he shall at once sew and tar such wounds m his pen or otherwise treat and dress Se sheep as directed by in charge of the shed But no shearer shall be required to tar his sheep in other cases. When a sheep is seriously injured or otherwise cut the shearer shall immediately report the fact to the person in charge ol I the shed. , „ . , 12. That the employer finds treo grazing for one horse for each sliC-trcr. 13. The employer finds free of cost one grindstone as required. . 14. That in sheds where machines are used the employer shall find the necessary machinery and oil, tho shearers to pay for combs and cutters at cost price. 15. That where rations are provided sufficient food of good quality, including butter and jam, be supplied to the men. One and a quarter pounds of butter per man per week be allowed. 16. That the dining-room where provided be sufficiently lighted each evening till 9 o'clock. • 17. Any person absenting himself from work without proper reasonable I grounds or found bringing intoxicants ' on to the station, may be treated by the employer as having committed a breach of this agreement. 18. That an authorised agent of tho Shearers' Union be allowed to visit the sheds during shearing time, provided ho does not interfere with tho shearers during working hours. Sujli agent to notify the employer or person in charge of the shed of his presence. 19. No employer shall, in the engagement or dismissal of men, d'scrimination against members of the Union, nor do anything for the purpose of injuring the Union, whether directly or indirectly: Provided that nothing in this award shall interfere with the right of the employer to discharge any shearer at any time for such incompetence or misconduct as iwould justify such discharge under general law. 20. When members of the Union and non-members are employed to- - gether there shall be no discrimination between members and non-mem-bers, aud both shall work together in harmony, and shall receive equal pay for equal work. 21. That there bo no limitation as to the number of learners hi any shed. 22. Where the sheen-owner engages a contract cook provisions of claase 15 shall apply. 23. Any award the result of this agreement shall not apply to any farmer or members of his family when dealing with their own sheep. 24. This agreement to remain in force until March 31, 1910.