SHEARERS’ RATES.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10729, 29 October 1928, Page 2

SHEARERS’ RATES.

INCREASE OF 2/6 PER 100. APPLIES THIS YEAR. An increase in shearers’ wages by 2/0 per 100 throughout New Zealand is proposed under tho agreement reached by the conference of employers and employees recently held in ‘ Wellington. ‘important point's under the agreement wore explained by Mr. H. W. Nicholson, secretary of the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation, and Air. A. V. S. Reed, representing Hawke’s Bay pas to rails ts, to a large meeting of sheepfarmers held under the auspices of the Poverty Bay branch of tho Sheepowners’ Federation. The meeting was held in camera, and was presided over by Air. W. •Sherratt, who was a delegate to the conference. After a full discussion with the visiting officials, tho meeting unanimously accepted tho agreement arrived at between the New Zealand Federation and the Shearers’ Union concerning, the rates of pay for shearers and shed hands.

The agreement sets out that for three years, including the current year, the rates for these employees shall lie adjusted in accordance with the. movement of wool prices, as determined by the Government Statistician's index numbers for export orices of wool. For the purpose of his calculation, the index number of the current year is taken at 1800, and this is equivalent to 30/- per 100 or shearers, while on the same basis shed hands are to receive tho rates is set out in the 1926 award, plus .’pi per hour for hourly hands, or 7/6 ier week for weekly employees. A movement of 50 units in the index number, up or down, shall equal 6d ier 100 for shearers aud'rid per hour nr 1/6 per week for shed hands. Provision is made that at no time shall the rate for for shearing fall below 25/- per 100 or the rates for shed hands be reduced more than 2\ per hour below the 1926 award.

Tlie rates for youths for the three •ears of the agreement will be 1/8 ,)Or hour or £2/12/6 per week, and .vi!l not be subject to any variation on the basis used for the calculation of the shearers and shed hands’ wages. A committee, comprising thcGovernmcnt Statistician and representatives of the federation and the union will determine the index number for each year, and will make an announcement of the rates of pay for tho season not later than October 1 in each year. Under the ahove agreement, the rates for the current year will be as under:—

Shearers.—(a) Shearing by hand, 30/- per 100, with rations; (b) shearing by machine, 30/- per 100, with rations; (c) shearing lambs, 30/- per 1.00, with rations; (d) in cases where the shearers find themselves in rations, these rates shall be increased by 5/- per 100; (e) the’rate for stud sheep shall he settled by agreement between tho employer and the shearer employed to do the work; (f) the rate for shearing hogget rams shall lie rate and a-half, and for other rams double ordinary rates. She’d hands.— Prossers, by. tho week £3/17/6, by the hour 2/21; all other shod hands, £3/12/6, '2/0*; youths over 16 years of ago and under 18 rears of ago, £2/12/6, 1/81; cooks (for 12 men or under), £4/7/6, (where over 12 men are employed the wages shall bo by agreement between the employer and the worker, but not in any case less than the said minimum ol £4/7/6 per week); cooks’ assistants. £3/17/6 per week.