WAGES OF SHEARERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1926, Page 2

WAGES OF SHEARERS.

UNION SEEKS INCREASE. Br Telegraph.—-Press Association Wellington, May 5. The New Zealand Shearers’ Union has drawn up its demands for a new award for shearers and shed hands with substantial increases in shearers’ wages. Following are the demands and present rates: — Hand shearers 37s 6d (now 255) per 100 with rations. Machine shearers, 32s 6d (255); shed sheep, rate and a half; rams, ram stags and double fleeced sheep, double rate; merinos above rates plus 7s '6d for hand and 5s for machine. Six shillings to be allowed if rations are not provided. Shed hands and pressers, by the week £5 ( £3 2s 6d), by the hour 2s 6d (Is lOd), all others weekly, £4 5s (£2 17s Cd), hourly 2s 3d (Is 8d). Cooks for 12 men or under £7 (£3 l.s 6d); cooks’ assistants, £5 (£3). Where there are over 12 men cooks to receive 7s 6d per week for each extra man. The present award leaves this extra allowance to agreement. In lieu of rations shed hands to receive £1 10s ( £1). A new claim is for Is per bale extra for pressers required to do weighing, branding and stacking. Working hours for shearers and shed hands, 44 pef week. The present award is a 12-hour day inclusive of meal times. Regarding rations, the demands claim the inclusion of jam, pickles, sauces and green vegetables twice weekly and 21bs. of butter per week per man. Fares to and from the nearest station or transport by the employers are demanded.