CO-OPERATIVE SHEARING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 13

CO-OPERATIVE SHEARING.

AN AUSTRALIAN SCHEME,

It has been announced (says the Australasian) that the movement inaugurated by the pastoralists' associations towards cooperative shearing is proving successful. Apparently it is not intended that all shearing shall be carried out on co-operative lines, the scheme being intended to cover in the meantime shearing which has hitherto been carried out by contract. Numbers of pastoralists have not installed plants on their stations, and they have found it convenient to make a contract for having the wool taken off and prepared for market at per pound. This departure from the early system of every station employing its own shearers was made some years ago. Contract shearing appears to have given fairly general satisfaction;_ but the pastoralists evidently see their way to improving on this system. The new companies will be managed by directorates of pastoralists and the shareholder will, of course, take any profit, either in dividend or in the saving on the cost of the shearing. First of all, the charges will be just what will cover administrative costs, and the companies will shear only for shareholders. The proposition has a further object, which is set forth in the general conditions, which state that the company is being formed for the purpose of improving the facilities to shareholders for the shearing of their sheep, and for the organisation of the available labour to the best advantage; also for the engagement of general pastoral labour. The companies are further to have full power to carry on business in various branches of utility to graziers and to the grazing industry. Owners of cattle may become shareholders, a provision which indicates that it is intended > to make pretty wide use of the companies. No doubt the leading pastoralists in the association see in the co-operative movement a means of bringing about a _ practical combination of pastoralists, which should become more solid than the ordinary association because of the business consideration Involved in the taking up of shares and the operations of the company.