SHEARERS' SECTION

Maoriland Worker, Volume 5, Issue 178, 1 July 1914, Page 6

SHEARERS' SECTION

By. M. LARACY?

Tlio finding of tho jury in the libel caso Dixon v. ''The Worker" should bo tho means of awakening the workers of this country to tho fact, that they aro well up against it. In making this statemout I do not for a moment endorse the articlo which has loft us open for such a caning; but 1 contend that the amount of damages is altogether out of keeping with tho offence committed. It was not proved J that Dixon had suffered in any way through the article in question. In fact, if wo can be guided by past experience, ho is much more likely' to gain by it. However, tho damage is done, and it is for us to benefit by tho experience, and without changing our vipws we cau use moro diplomatic language in expressing ourselves in tho future. ■ I havo stated that tho workers are well upagainst -it ', and Twill go further in stating that "bar "one," there is no paper in this country that would have been hit as hard as "The Worker" was in Hamilton. This'is because a'paper which will articles in defence of the workers, is an eyesore to the powers'that be. • - . Mr. Wm. Darrell, a _ weU : taow_ shearer and ■ expert,- who.'left'Ne'w'Zea- • laud-early in the-year, writes from Brazil as follows: "At- length I can manage to drop you a line.' Tho shearing in Argentine.' commences : about September, bub .it,is, no place for a. white man.to shear, or in.fact do any other kind of manual'labour. Tlio halfbreeds who do tlio shearing receive what^would' bp in English money about 1-Jd..p.ejvlicad—-just aboutjialf .of what wo.would get in Australia, andl.-the . conditions; of living aro" very, rough. I will not remain here, «but may go on '■ to- Mexico.\.... I will send along some matter for.-"Tbe Worker" as requested • by you when leaving New Zealand, i ." In glancing through the Queensland "Worker" I notp with pleasure that some of tho sheds are putting through a large number of.sheep this season; Wellshot employs 40 shearers and 40 July, and will put 'through 260,000-Wellshot-'employs 40 shearers and 40 shed'hands, lsis Down-employs 52 shearers and 60 shed hands, audi wilt start the third week in July; on this, station there are 250,000 to be put. through.., ...... ~,...• ,■,;.':

The largest number of sheep,;put ! through4n, : any one shod in Now.Zea- ;- i'.landj'is at Ben.More, via.:Kurow, about ; ; 70.jP0^ k >The-'hig, sheds in Maoriland are *bocon*uftg|a 'tho',p>&,,,,a&d in avfew-'years a .shod with 10, v OOO wjill be : cousidercdea" top l -notcher. v s vS ! ',: ; : In the Snc'xt' issue, thc v List k 'bf'-Sliear-ing sheds, will be published, and it is far from* complete, Iwill'thank ers to send along additions, corrections, etc. j '

Letters addressed to Lloyd 'Jones, Charles Murphy, Harry Hopkins, John McKay, await thorn at this office. I will thank any reader for sending'along addressee of above.

At tho recent general elections in France the 'total Socialist vote numbered '1,400,000. , .There." were 102 Socialist members ■''returned to the Chamber •of Deputies, t