CONDITIONS OF SHEPHERDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19135, 2 October 1936, Page 13

CONDITIONS OF SHEPHERDS

(To tho Editor of the Herald.) Sir, —.[ would like to take this opportunity <if .bringing to public notice the position of shepherds in this district, the present government lias done much : valuable service in organising and bettering (lie conditions of employees in all branches of industry, but. no mention or ; suggestion lias yet been made regarding shepherds. Ilte men’s hours arc, perhaps, the longest of any, particularly i during the summer months. (Jut of a wage averaging under £2 per week, plus ' keep, it shepherd has to provide and keep at least two horses and a pack of dogs, besides equipment for same. ’ He has to live in a. wharc, very often without the necessities which make for , reasonable conditions. The water supply is often poor and inadequate, while washing conditions are very poor, and ; tho majority of buildings in a state of ; bad repair. It is understood that a shepherd on a back country station cannot have iirst-class accommodation, but the general conditions could be improvedl would like to see steps taken to ensure that this branch of work is investigated and given eonsideratioinunder the following headings: —(1) Wages: Sufficient to pay for, and replace when necessary, horses and dogs, many of which demand a high initial cost amt arc often lost through accident, disease, etc., as well as allowing a fair margin for tho upkeep of the shepherd himself. Tho first cost of horses and dogs and equipment can be set down at a hare minimum of £7O to £BO. Dogs can he bred, but distemper, etc., can quickly reduce a valuable pack. (2) Hours of work: Tho hours are not regulated in any way. It is understood that during the busy season a shepherd is required on duty from daylight to sundown, but some arrangement can be made to compensate that by allowing _ free Sundays and annual holidays on full pay. (3) Living conditions: These can be improved to a large extent. At least something should be clone to provide good whares, with a decent bathroom and hot water wherever possible, as well as an adequate supply of fresh water. Reasonable facilities should also be provided for washing and drying of clothes, etc. I should very much like to see some organisation of file shepherds with a view to drawing up a set of conditions to put before the Arbitration Court.— Yours, etc., “UP COUNTRY SHEPHERD.”