TRAINING SHEARERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 252, 27 November 1914, Page 3

TRAINING SHEARERS.

MORE SUPPORT NEEDED. The disabilities of the young men who are trained as shearers at the Technical College was brought up at the last meeting of the Farmers' Union by the secretary, Mr A. J. Bell, and reported in Wednesday's Sun. Speaking to Mr Bell yesterdav, he amplified his statements,.saying that, if the farmers would not give preference to these young men, it seemed hardly worth while the Farmers' Union and Shipowners' Union giving subsidies towards the classes. The young men were not learners; they received their competency certificates before being passed college, which was passing through about 50 a year. Many of them who had left good positions in order to learn shearing were now out of employment,-and still a large number of Australian shearers Were being engaged —l5O of them came to Canterbury last week, and more were on the way. It might not be possible to provide for all local requirements through the college r training, but much could be done; yet, if the farmers could not keep these young fellows in work, then the Farmers' Union and the Sheepowners' Union were throwing money away in giving subsidies, and might as well drop it. If better support were given, said Mr Bell, it was probable that a.class for blade-shearing would have to be commenced, as blade-shearing was coming back into favour, machine-shearing having been found to be too close for ewes.