SHEARERS' AWARDS AND CLAIMS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 7 April 1908, Page 2

SHEARERS' AWARDS AND CLAIMS

THE SOUXHiiJciJM PKUPuriALS. Mauawuitu Times. xhe agreement come to uy the Wellington Ghetii-eite' Union ana the shipowners in conference at Falmereton and scut an irom the Conciliation 'Board as a recommendation, will he made into an award at the sittings ot the Arbitration Uourt here on Thua«day, cm which date jdr tloopea- tor the sheep-owiui's and Air Abbott lor the Union have been requested to attend. This fact makes the more interesting what is going on in the shearing world ' anil the movement in favour of the feder- . ation of the various Shearers' Unions of ! the Dominion with a view to approximating conditions to which we have previously i-eferred. A meeting has been called for Hunterville to consider this mat-

tar. Canterbury Sheep-owners Industrial Union und the Canterbury Shearers' Industrial Union has to 'be settled in the South Island.

ihe striking differences are the rates proposed, those of the employers being ies6 than the expiring awaid while those of the shearers' propose a further increase. Thas : — Employers.— Machine-shearing 15b per 100 with rations; hand-shearing 16b 8d per 100 with rations. Where shearers find themselves, 3s 4d per 100 extra. Stud sheep as per agreement; hogget rams, rate and a half ; other rams double rates. Shearers Claims.— 2le per 100 merinos; 21 per 100 other flock sheep; rams, 6-months and over, double; other stud sheep, ram stags, double fleeces, rate and a half.

Where employers fail to start shearing 00 day of advice, or there is stoppage of machinery through breakage, the 6hearere ask for Is 3d per hour waiting time; also (1) that each shearer be credited with three-pence per 100 to cover wear and tear ol his appliances; and (2) charged' at cost for all combs, cutters, shears, oil and stores.

Only the last provision (2) appears in the sheep-owners' proposition.

The shearers propose weekly progress payments not exceeding 75 per cent. ; the employers not exceeding 50 per cent.

Clause 15 of the sheareia' claim propose "A representative shall be elected by the shearers at each shed', and each such representative and <iihe person in charge of the shed shall be responsible persons to settle any disputes that may occur between the shearers' and> the employer or his agent. In the event of amy dispute arising as to wet sheep,- the shed representative shall take a vote of the shearers on the question, the decision of the majority to be final. Provided however, that no individual shearer shall be compelled to shear any sheep which he has reasonable cause to believe is too wet to be shorn.'

No conditions covering the decision as to wet sheep appear in the sheep-owners' proposals. The only allusion being, "When shearing wet ewes, the ehed manager may alter the >smokos and extend the hours to the extent of half an hour in older to complete the cut-out."

The shearers propose that 'no shearer sEali use any other machine than that provided b>^ the employer." The sheep-ownera propose, "The shearers shalJ be at fioerty to use their own machines if they so desire." l'he shearers propose that in machine £.b.ed>s employing five or more shearers, no person shall occupy the dual position of shearer a/nd expert. Where the dual position ac occupied Is per hundred exera, miuist be paid' for all sheep shorn in the shed as experts' fee in addition "«to his earnings as a shearer, and ,where an expert is employed no shearer is to do his own grinding.

The shearers propose that "No food shall be supplied to shearers by contract cooks," the sheep-owtnere to provide for the employment of competent cooks.

"Sufficient food of good quality" is what the employers offer, Including "not more than lib of butter per week for each shearer." But the shearers specify their requirements thus : — "Rations free of cost to the shearers : Oatmeal, tea, coffee, sugar, flour, rioe, sago, currants, raieins, fino salt, pepper, mustard, vinegar, butter, jam, milk, vegetables (to include cabbage, potatoes and onions), mutton or beef, baking powder, cream of tartar, carbonate of soda, hops, dried apples and curry powder" — also 'a properly constructed fly-proof meateafe."