The Shearers' Dispute.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 9730, 6 January 1908, Page 1

The Shearers' Dispute.

(Per Prkss Association.l Palmerston North, January 4,

A special meeting of the Palmerstoii; blanch of the Farmers' Union was held to-day to discuss the matter of the shearers' dispute. It was stated that the object of the union was to improve the condition of farmers generally and to help every hranch of farming, larm laborers included. The following objections to the claims of the shearers were Taised :—(1) The rate cannot be the same for all districts; (2) if there are machines the prices should not be the same a 6 if hand-shears were used ; (3) for sheds which have a large night pen in proportion to the number of shearers there should be a differential rate; (4) some give and take was necessary in connection with dagging wet sheep, which should be subject to the decision of the men and the manager of the shed,- ,'5) limitation of learners is unreasonable, for there are too few shearers already. There was a public meeting of farmers in the afternoon,* when the necessity for taking action to meet the case was pointed out, and it was stated that the union would not go before the Conciliation Court, though it was quite willing to assist to an amicable understanding. The following resolutions were carried : —That the meeting requests the Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union to take steps to meet its citation before the Conciliation Board, and agrees to pay 5s per thousand sheep towards fighting funds; that the meeting endorses the action of the Farmers' Union Executive in declining to argue before the Conciliation Board.

A committee was appointed to act with the Farmers' Union Executive.