THE THRESHING QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10562, 8 January 1896, Page 4

THE THRESHING QUESTION.

A meeting of farmers was held at O'Ksne's Hotel, Mosgiel, last eveniDg to consider the threshing quest ion. Mrß. Gibson presided. 1 Mr J. H. Allak mentioned that a mill, owner (Mr Blackie) had c;il'.ed cm him that afternoon, and Baid that he was qui'e agreeable to thresh by'piece work or by the 100 bushels, j but that he did .not think it would be fair to ritaks a fixed price for 100 buthel*.

Mr R. Gawk expressed-a desire to hive his threshing done this season* at so much psv bushel.

Mr Caliender remarked that' hs was satisfied last year with the system of having the threshing done at per bushel. Ha had paid 20s per 100 bushels, lOa of v»hich went to the roen, the millowner keeping the oiher 10s himself.

Mr Hastib mentioned that he had attended two meetings last year at Henley, and the cbairinau v?a.s requested to write to the millowners for a price. All tha owners refused, with one exception—Mr Blackie, —and conic of. tfce farmers then got & man from Waihola, who cid the work—and did it well—at, he thought, 17s all round.

| Mr J. Gow thought that a Dew system only j needed to be started in order to become genera!, but the question was how to start it. Mr Callender said ail the farmers hia way w tre going for the sjßtem of paying pec baabel. . " ' '

Mr Hastie ongcofited that the different mill. • owners should be written to ond t.sked if they would do tbe work in that way. 'i'aough they had rel'med Isss year tbey might now, being a year older, have more sense. —(Laughte.-.) The Chairman aaifi it was a pity that the meeting waa not mare largely attended, as then they might plsOge themselvea to thresh in no other w»y. • He suggested tbas thoie present should so pledge themselves.

Mr Hastie : We have uut got the strength. The C'DAiitMAN was prepared to pledge nioiself to thresh no way otber than by the bushel, aud then let each make the best " deal" he could. They could not expect an uniform prico throughout.

Mr Gow was nob satisfied with the present system, but he km not prepared to pledge himself either way, because the cost might be more one way than the other. If tbure bad been a thoroughly represent »tive meeting and all pledged themselves it would have been all right, but there wera so few there that he was nut prepared to pledge himself. Mr Gawn did not think there woald be any trouble about the rcat'er.

Mr Allan repeated tbat Mr Blackie was prepared to thresh by the bushel, bub not to fix a price.

Mr Has™ : He offered to do mine for nothii'g.—(Laufihter.) A Voice : He's tbe man.—(L»ugtter.) Mr Hastie gaid a great disadvantage at which the farmers on the wast side of the river were placed arose through those on the other fide of the river paying Id.per hour more for their meu.

Mr Gow said tbat the greatest objection he saw to the present system was tbat there seemed to be no proper control over the workmen. The men did not work to please the farmers, but to please the millowners.

The Chairman said it seemed the meetins was Dardly prepared to come to an understanding on the quoftion. He would suggest that a deputation should be appointed to wait ou the milliners, aud that another meeting should be held later ou, when their judgmeats might ba more matured.

Mr Gow supported the suggnstion, and recommended that the names should be secured of those who were anxious to institute a change, and submitted to the millownera.

Mr Hastie thought there were very few in the West Taieri who did not desire a change. Very few, he said, liked to take the risk of "Backing" a man who had come with the machine. He had ouly once " sacked" & roan. The man eaid he (Mr Ha^tie) was very smart, bu' he would make, him pay for it. He had never "sacked" » man since.—(Laughter) On the motion of Mr Gow, it was resolved to appoint a deputation to wait 'on the millowners and reporb to a future rocsliDg, to be held on the 17th inst.

It was agreed that Messrs Haolie and Webpier should iuterviojv the millqwners in West Taieri and Messrs R. Gibson and Gawu those in Bast Taieri.