AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10884, 26 April 1921, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS

CLAIM. FOB INCREASES. GRAZIERS DECLARE THEM "PREPOSTEROUS-” Claims for large increases in rates of pay of shearers and station hands were served recently by the Australian Workers’ Union on employers engaged in the pastoral industry throughout the Commonwealth. Graziers declare that they are preposterous, and point out that under prevailing conditions, with the price received for pastoral products down from 50 to 75 per cent., large quantities of wool etill unsold, and all markets depressed, it is questionable whether the industry can bear the existing rates and conditions The claims will come before the Commonwealth Arbitration Court at an early date. For shearers «£3 per 100 ie claimed, with » guarantee of a minimum of <£9 10s weekly without keep, or £3 with keep. The old award provided for 30s per 100. and the rate paid sinoe tlie shearers’ strike last year has been 40e. All other claims are in proportion. They include:—Crutobings, 15s. against 7s €d In the old award and 10s paid last season ; shod hands. £& weekly, irrespective of age. for unskilled work, against 68s for adults and lower rates for youths; cooks. 10s per man, against 6s. Fares both ways are asked for. also provisions that the number of shed hands and pickers-ut> be limited to the number of shearers, and that all sheen be dagged before beimr penned for shearing. Under the claims respecting station nraoHcalW Ml station emr»loTe°«. _i.. a:—'- would b<» classified as station hands at JE4 10s rnd keep, and time and a half for overtime, compared with the weekly rate of £2 8s under the existing award. A 44-hour week is claimed for all fetation work and shearing. The existing übdiu vtjijniitri lxxe hours oi to work about the homestead.