SHEARERS' DEMANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19320, 6 May 1926, Page 13

SHEARERS' DEMANDS.

CLAIMS FOR NEW AWARD. GREATLY INCREASED WAGES. A FORTY-FOUR HOURS WEEK. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The New Zealand Shearers' Union has drawn up demands for a new award for shearers and shed hands with substantial increase-s in shearers' wages. Following are the demands, and also the present rates: — Hand shearers, 37s 6d, now 25s per 100, with rations; machine shearers, 32s 6d, now 25s ; stud sheep at rate and a-half; rams, ram stags, and doublefleeced sheep at double rate. Merinos at abovo rates, plus 7s 6d for hand and 5s for machine. Six shillings to be allowed if rations are not provided. Shed Hg.nds.—Pressers, by the week, £5, now £3 2s 6d, by the hour 2s 6d, now Is 10d; all others weekly, £4 5s and £2 17s 6d, hourly 2s 3d and is Bd. Cooks, for 12 men or under, £7, now £3 12s 6d. Cooks' assistants, £5, now £3. Where thero are over 12 men, cooks to receive 7s 6d per week for each extra man. Tho present award leaves this extra allowance to an agreement. In lieu of rations, shed hands to receive £1 10s (now £1). A new claim is for Is per bale extra for pressers required to do weighing, branding and stacking. Working hours for shearers and shed hands to be 44 per week. The present award is for a 12-hour day, inclusive of meal times. Regarding rations, the demands claim the inclusion of jam, pickles, sauces and green vegetables twice weekly, and 21b. of butter per week per man. Fares to and from the nearest station, or transport by the employer, are also demanded.