A BOYCOTTED STATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144297, 12 January 1914, Page 3

A BOYCOTTED STATION.

RED FEDS. AND RUANUI. For a station shearing 27.000 sheep to find itself in tho midst of the busy season without shearers, shed hands, or any other class of worker, is embarrassing. This faced (ho Ruanui station at the commencement of last week. The trouble began with the watersiders’ strike. The manager called for volunteers to go to Wellington as special constables, and as a result several volunteered, and had their names sent in to the police. On their departure, however, ono of tho “specials” refused to go, on tho plea that ho would bp called a “scab” by his comrades. He was reasoned with in vain, and having broken faith, was given the alternative of taking his cheque. He wont the next day. In their passage round the countryside incidents of this sort arc liable to get distorted. Consequently many u shearer, shod hand, anti rouseabont “swore of!” Ruanui. and on top of this a great number of shearers declared it a “scab” station. The first signs of the trouble were given during tho past week, when a number of shed hands who had been engaged from Otawhiti (Himterville) failed to put in an appearance at the ap- . pointed time. Inquiries showed that a rumour bad “gone the rounds” throughout the King Country that Ruanui was to he loft ip the lurch by everyone, and that therefore it would hardly ho worth while venturing out there. This.was attributed to the “sacking” incident of two mouths’ previous. Nothing daunted, the manager set to work, and by a stroke of good fortune succeeded in completing Ids list of workers by Thursday night. A start was made on Friday with a board of eleven men, and during the period between 8.15 a.m. and 5 p.m., 1394 sheep had been put through. On Saturday, shearing with a full hoard, 1825 sheep were shorn. It is considered the best start that lias been made on the station for several years. The incident indicates the tactics that the average Federation!,st, who is ilways crying out about victimisation, will employ himself, regardless of oriipary fair’play.