SHEARING INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21578, 24 August 1933, Page 12

SHEARING INDUSTRY

AGREEMENT ON WAGES RATES FOR THIS SEASON SLIDING SCALE THEREAFTER [ni' TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT! WELLINGTON. "Wednesday An agreement reached between the Now Zealand Sheepowners and Farmers' Federation and the New* Zealand Workers' Union, covering rates of pay and conditions for the shearing industry from 'J933-.54 to 1935-36 inclusive, was confirmed at a conciliation council sitting to-day. For the coming season, rates of pay will bo as follows :-r-Shearers, not less than 18s per 100 sheep or lambs, with rations. In cases where shearers find their own rations, tho rates will be increased by 5s per 100. Tho rate for stud sheep is to bo settled by agreement between the employer and tho shearer. The rate for shearing hogcet rams is to bo rate and a-half and for other rams double the ordinary rate. Rates for Shed Hands Pressors are to be paid £2 5s by/ the week and Is 3d by the hour. All other shed hands are to bo paid £2 by the week and Is Id by the hour. Youths over 16 years and under 18 arc to receive £1 5s by the week and 9d by the hour.

Cooks for 12 men or under are to be paid at the rate of £2 16s a week, or 10s a day if employed for fewer than seven days. Where over 12 men are employed, the wages shall be by agreement between the employer and the worker, but in no case shall be less than the minimum of £2 16s. Cooks' assistants are to receive £2 5s a week, or 8s a day if employed for fewer than seven days. All shed hands are to be provided with rations by the employer and an extra £1 a week is to be paid when it is agreed that the worker shall provide his'own rations.

The rates of pay for the 1934-35 and 1935-36 seasons are to be adjusted in accordance with the movement of wool prices as determined by the Government Statistician's index number for export prices of wool. An index number of 600 equals 18s per 100 sheep, 1000 equals 21s 6d per 100, and 1900 equals 27s 6d per 100 for shearers. The Minimum Rates Bates for shed hands and other workers are to be according to a sliding scale agreed upon, provided that tho rate per 100 for shearing shall not fall below 16s Bd, and the rates for shed hands and other workers shall notbe reduced below those set out as a minimum on the chart. The rates are: Youths, 20s a week or 8d an hour; other shed hands, 35s a week or Is an hour; cooks, 50s a week; cooks' assistants and pressers, 40s a week or Is 2d an hour. The minimum daily rate for cooks when engaged for fewer than seven days is to be 10s a day and the daily rate for cooks' assistants when engaged for fewer than seven days to be 8s a dfiy. Tho determination of the index number for each year is to be the work of a committee consisting of the Government Statistician and one representative each of the employers and shearers. This committee will announce not later than August 1 in each year the index number and the rates of pay for the season ahead. Wages in Recent Years

A joint application is to be made to the Arbitration Court to make an award embodying the agreement and this award will come into force on September 1, 1933, and continue in force until March 31. 1936.

In 1928 the rate for shearers was 30s per 100 and in 1929 29s per 100. The rate fell in the following season to a minimum of 255. There was no agreement between the parties in regard to "the sliding scale in 1931 and the Arbitration Court made an award fixing the rate at 21s > j)er 100. Last year there was no agreement or award and tho position was one of freedom of contract. Shearing was performed at rates as low as 15s per 100, but mostly at 17s 6d and 18s.