SHEARING RATES.

Lake County Press, Issue 2792, 3 July 1919, Page 5

SHEARING RATES.

Framing a New Scale.

The conference between representatives oFthe various Shearers’ Unions throughout New Zealand and the New Zealand Sheepowners and Farmers’ Federation met at Wellington on Thursday to discuss the details of the new award for next shearing season After a lengthy discussion the meeting adjourned, and in the meantime the whole matter was considered by the sheepowners, and the following resolution was carried : That, after lengthy and careful consideration of the shearers’ demands, this meeting of sheep-owners’ representatives is of opinion that the wages paid under the 1917 award are of a highly remunerative standard as compared with the general average of wages paid throughout the dominion, but that in view of the general labour unrest which undoubtedly exists, and continuous complaints as to _the high cost of living—for sheep owners admit little responsibility —and that the sheepowners desire to be held free from any charge of precipitating labour turmoil, we recommend that the following offer be made to the shearers and shed hands: (1) That the 1917 award in regard to general conditions be continued for two or three years. (2) That an addition of. 2s 6d per 100 be paid on the flat rate for shearing. (3) That an addition of 5s per week, or 2d per hour, be paid to shed hands, pressers, and other workers. The foregoing rates, inclusive of bonus, work out at 30s per 100 and found for shearers, £2 17s 6d and found for pressers and wool-rollers, £2 15s and found for other shed hands, £8 15s and found for cooks, £2 15s and found for cooks’ assistants. For hourly workers the terms suggested are : Is 8d per hour for pressers and rollers, and Is 7d for other shed hands (also including found). On the conference being resumed the offer was put forward, subject to being made into an award. The shearers’ representatives accepted the rate for shearers, but objected to the rates for other workers and tp the nonalteration of the conditions. The workers’ representatives ultimately undertook to refer the offer to their respective unions, and a similar course was agresd to by the sheep-owners.