THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 22 August 1919, Page 5

THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

AN UNUSUAL FEATURE

(BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION ) CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 20. Before tiie Conciliation Council the dispute between the Canterbury Sheeoovvners' Wn and the Canterbury bhearers' Union was heard. Tne dispute was unusual, in that the case was brought by the employers and not by the workers. The employers' ma in proposals were: Hours of work. Sam to op.m shearing to stop at 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Rates of pay, 25s per 100, with rations, in addition to a bonus of 5s per 100; in cases where shearers find their own rations an extra 4s per 100 to be paid. The rat© tor stud sheep shall be settled by agreement. Rate for shearing hogget rams, rate and a half; for other rams, double rates. For shed hands, pressers and rollers, 47s 6d per week; and other hands, 455; cooks, 655; cook's asisstants, 4os, in addition to honus of 10s to all weekly hands. Pressers and rollers, when not employed by the week, shall be paid Is 5d per hour; other shed hands Is 4d, in addition to bonus of 3d per hour; where workers provide their own rations an extra 15s per week shall be paid. The workers asked for 33s 6d per 100 with rations,, and double rates for shearing rams, dags, and doublefleeced sheep. Five pounds per week was asked for rollers and £4 for other shed hands; cooks £6 to £8, and cooks' assistants £5 10s.

After consideration a flat rate of 30s per 100 was reached regarding the payment of shed hands and cooks, hours, rates for double-fleeced sheep, (lagging, fires, learners, waiting time, crutching, or employment of a hutkeeper. Many othei- clauses were agreed to, among them those relating to methods of payment of workers, control of shed, free grazing, and contract work. The employers also undertook to import £300 worth of hand shears and sell them at cost through the union.

The clauses dn which no agreement was reached were referred to the Arbitration Court.