SHEARERS AND THEIR GRIEVANCES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 21

SHEARERS AND THEIR GRIEVANCES.

' Mr J. F. Mercier, organiser of the NewZealand Workers' Union, hi* Jjn.d an interview with the Minister of Labour, and has brought under his attention the grievances of shearers. Mr Mercier, who has travelled about 900 miles from station to station through the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay district, gave the Minister an account of his tour, and related several circumstances showing the position of the workers. He said that the shearers complained of the employment of Maori labour, and also spoke of the very unsatisfactory character of the accommodation for shearers and station hands in some places. One shed he describes, used as a receptacle for all sorts of rubbish during winter, and employed to accommodate shearers in summer ; it lies within 3ft of a pigsty. Another question of importance to shearers was discussed, that of exchange on cheques. It was pointed out that, unlebS they sign an agreement to the contrary, employees must be paid in cash. It was also stated that the deducting of a certain amount from shearers' wages on account of the Employers' Liability Act is illegal. Mr Mercier states that as a result of the Industrial Conciliation Bill men are enrolling in tho vpiion more strongly than ever. He found general satisfaction expressed at the labour; legislation of the present Grovernment<, :, ' ;: -" '.,