SHEEPOWNERS' UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16356, 4 October 1917, Page 3

SHEEPOWNERS' UNION

MEETING IN TIMATHJ. ( A meeting of the commi'&fcee of the South Canterbury branch of the Canterbury Sheepowuors' Union was held in Guinness and LeCren's buildings. Present—Messrs E. It. Guinness (pre- j rsident), Geo. Murray, Bernard Tripp, I It. J. McKcown, and Jer. Connolly. Mr Tripp asked whether 'the expouses of the South Canterbury Woo [growers' Executive committee, set tip at die request of the Minister of Agriculture, had been paid by ! che : Government? Mr Guinness ' explained that this amount still remained unpaid; and on the suggestion o'f Mr Tripp it was 'decided to asflc 'the Farmers' Union and the Timaru A. and P. Association to meet the expenditure by paying equal shares with the Caniterbury Sheepowners' Union. | Mr T. I). Burnett wrote 'that he considered there was'going to be a big shortage of jSkoarers for the* ensuing season and in consequence shearing operations in the back country would probably be going on in March. To help to meet this contingency he suggested that the Unien should make application to tho military authorities to exempt shearers! from 'the October, November, December and" January drntfts of reinforcements. v -' Before d'scussinc; this suggestion Mr Connolly asked Mr Tripp tho extent' of the exemption which is being granted to high country Blusterers. Mr Tripp explained that exemptions wore allowed sine die, but the authorities reserved the right to call a man into camp should ho strike or do' anything contrary to the terms of his exemption. The number 'of exemptions granted was small. Mr Geo. Murray said he did 'not consider it would bs difficult to get sheep shorn. Mr Tripp was nofc iu favour 6f making application to the authorities ' to exempt eligible single men from future drafts of reinforcemencs, especially in view of the approach of the first ballot of the .Second Division. Mr Connolly considered that the farmer, who was receiving greatly increased benefits, could afford t'o make greater sacrifice? than perhaps a slight! delay in getting i his sheep 'fhorn. A more practical suggestion would he 'to arrange a conference of'farmers to discuss wa.vs and means of making a united effort to pet down-country she'ep shorn earlier than in the past. In view of a bountiful harvos'c, this procedure would prove most beneficial to I national efficiency and general production as it would * permit shearers and others to finish off the back country sheep in time to assist with harvest operations. The small loss to' the .sheep-owner, if any. -\\ould be more than compensated for by the wide gain if tlig, harvest work were carried out without delay. Mr McKoa-nn said he had always shorn his sheop early and would do so again this year to enable shearers to gec away to the stations. It was Mis intention to shear for anyone in his district again this ro2,r as he felt sure that the organisation of shearing would l°ave shearers and shed hands fewer idle days, and would therefore save valuable time Mr' Tripp proposed and Mr Connolly) seconded "That this committee is satisfied to leave tho suggestions of exemption ef shoairei s to 'die Military Appeal Beards ,and will not take any furtheraction.' ' —Carried unanimously. A further suggestion was received from Mr BnrneVz i-\ reference to Government contiol of fencing material and its during the period'" of the war.

After.'ia general discussion jniember's. agreed that farmers and others, ,were; yery unlikely tp dp any fencing unless it was for the better working of. their respective fairms, -especially in view, > of. the present highprices.■..' 'Mr Burnett .wrote furtner, in reference to extreme : wages, but it was decided that iln view of the present extraordinary circumstances it opened up a big question upon which it "was impossible, to arbitrate. Mr Connolly .proposed that "the secretary (Mr R. C. Heron), be request-ed-to call a meeting of members of the Union', the local A. and P Association, Advisory Boards and Sheepownors' Union for Saturday next,, at 2.30 p.m., in Guinness and LeCrcn's buildings, to make endeivours" to induce farmers to shear their sheeg earlier than in the past,- and thereby permit am. early termination, of shearing operations everywhere, and in.conscqxfenoe release shearers a.nd..,shod hands in time to assist with what r>romises to be a bountiful harvest. This .was seconded bv Mr McKeowii and oarriejl unanimously.