SHEARERS’ ULTIMATUM.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 2797, 8 June 1921, Page 5

SHEARERS’ ULTIMATUM.

j\i TITI DK OF LHE FARMERS

The opinion expressed by Mr C. Grayndler, secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, to the effect that as no settlement of the shearing dispute has been arrived at, “shear,,rs will naturally go to Australia, where they can obtain £2 per hundred instead of the £1 per 100 offered hy the New Zealand shipowners,” was referred to by Mr E. C. Jack, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, in conversation with a Dominion reporter. ‘‘lt may he true,” said Air Jack, “that a number of shearers will leave New Zealand for Australia, but that is the ease in almost every normal year. Shearing in Australia starts fully two months ahead of Now Zealand’s operations and many shearers in pre-« war days were in the habit of going to Australia for the purpose of having an early run there anil then returning to participate l in the New Zealand shearing season.

•■The farmers of New Zealand are not a bit concerned at tho threatened exodus and the prospect of having to do their own shearing in tho coming season. Owing to the very low price ruling for wool a very large number of our farmers will be in the position of being unable to pay award rates 1 , and will be quite glad to do their own shearing. Another point is that many shearers are married men with a stoke in the Dominion, and it would not pay them to travel to Australia and return to New Zealand for the sake of the few extra pounds they would earn in tile Commonwealth.

• It is absolutely incorrect for Air G raynd t r to state that the shearers did not share in the profits which were reaped in the Dominion from ibe high prices of w 00l during the war period, the prices paid for shearing having been fully 50 p*r cent, higher than pre-war rates.”

A Rangitikei farmer to’d a Alanawatu Times representative yesterday that if the shearers persist in their demand for 30s per hundred for -.hearing co-operative methods will he employed by farmers for the shearing of their sheep next season.