SHEARING DIFFICULTIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25101, 17 December 1942, Page 6

SHEARING DIFFICULTIES

SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF MEN Notwithstanding the fact that large numbers of shearers have been released from camp this season, the shearing position is a difficult one, especially where back-country stations are concerned," said a Dunedin "stock agent yesterday, when discussing the shortage of labour. The majority of such stations were in a serious position, he said. They had to take musterers when available, otherwise they would have no chance of obtaining the men, as their engagements for the season were spread over so many stations. There was an extreme shortage of this type of worker. A number of high-countr” stations had had sheep mustered in the hope that shearers would be made available, he said, but many were still without men. The position was acute, as the sheep could not be kept on the low country any longer. Although the men released from the army were well below the standard of shearers of the previous year, farmers had been content to employ inexperienced men. Inquiries had been made about shearers who had finished their runs in the North Island, and advice had been received that a number of them would be arriving here within a few days. Most of these men, however, had never been accustomed to merino and fine-wool flocks. In the lakes district one large property, on which approximately 30,000 sheep are shorn, and which usually employs 14 shearers, had commenced operations with onb' two shearers. Another large run, comprising several properties, shearing 25,000 sheep, had also had to start with only two shearers, although a full team of musterers, shed hands, and a classer had been employed. This would cause the work to be very prolonged, and would increase the cost considerably. Lowcountry shearing had been retarded through broken weather. Thus shearers engaged in these districts would not be available for some time.