TRAINING SHEARERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22426, 5 September 1947, Page 6

TRAINING SHEARERS

SUBSIDY SCHEME THREE WEEKS’ TUITION HELP BY WOOL BOARD (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept, 5. A subsidised scheme for the training of shearers sponsored by the Department of Labour and Employment in conjunction with the New Zealand Wool Board and the New Zealand Workers’ Union was announced last night by the Minister of Labour, Mr A. McLagan. The Minister said the number of active shearers had declined steadily in recent years and a recent survey of the number of shearers likely to be available this season gave cause for concern. At a conference of representatives of all interested parties a recommendation was made that a subsidy scheme for the framing of shearers be inaugurated forthwith. In order to meet the total cost of subsidies to be paid to farmers engaging learners, the New Zealand Wool Board bad agree to make finance available for the 1947-43 season. In conjunction with the New Zealand Wool Board and the New Zealand Workers’ Union, the Department had drawn up a training scheme which would be administered by the district officers of the department, assisted by local committees. Pay During Training Period The scheme provides for training inexperienced men in shearing sheds during the actual shearing operations. The learner will be given three weeks’ tuition’by a qualified shearer and during the course will receive weekly wages of £5 13s, plus free keep. It is expected that by the expiry of the three weeks most learners will be able to make a tally of at least the equivalent to £5 13, but if they have not quite attained that standard and the shearing is still available in the shed they will continue to receive a weekly wage of £5 13s, or 3s Id per hour. A subsidy will be paid to farmers and .shearing contractors engaging learners to compensate them in some measure for delays incidental to teaching beginners. The subsidy will be at the rate of £3 per man-week during the three weeks’ course. Of this, £1 a week will be diverted to the instructor. Those shearing contractors who are bound by the award to engage learners will not qualify for the subsidy. The Minister said the scheme would be an inducement to young men to take up the craft of shearing and only by training more shearers could the present shortages be overcome.