The Shearers' Dispute.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 6691, 23 August 1919, Page 3

The Shearers' Dispute.

I'AIiTIAL AUIHSKMJtffT IJEACIIED. Christchureh, August 20. Before tlie Conciliation Council, the dispute between the Canterbury Sheep Owners' Union and the Canterbury Shearers' Union was heard. The dispute was rather unusual in that the caso was brought by the employers and not by the workers. The employers' main proposals woro : Hours of work, 0 a.m. to 5 p.m., shearing to slop at -1 p.m. on Saturdays ; rate of pay 2fis per 100, with rations, in addition to a bonus of os per 100 ; in cases where the shearers find tlieir own rations, an extra -Is per 100 to be paid. The rate for stud sheep shall be settled by agreement. The rate for shearing hogget rams shall be rate and a-half, and for other rams, double rates. The rates for shed hands shall be: l'ressers and rollers, 47s (id per week ; all other hands, iiis ; eooks, 05s ; cooks' assistants, 4."5. in addition to a bonus of 10s to all weekly hands. Pressers and rollers, when not employed by the week, shall be paid Is 5d per hour, and other shed hands Is -Id, in addition to a bonus of 3d per hour. Where workers provide their own rations an extra 15s per week sl,all be paid. The workers asked for 32s 6d per 100, with rations and double rates for shearing rams, sta'gs, and double-fleeced sheep. Five pounds per week were asked for rollers and £4 for other shed hands ; cooks £6 to £8; and cooks' as sistants £5 10s.

After conideration a flat, rate of 30s per hundred was agreed to. but no set tlcmcnt was reached regarding the pay mcnt of shed hands, cooks' hours, rates for douhle-flecced sheep, dagging, fares learners, waiting time, crutching, or the employment of a hut-keeper. Many other clauses wero agreed to, among them being those relating to the methods of payment of workers, control of sheds, free grazing, and contract work. The employers.also undertook to import £3OO worth of hand shears, and to sell them at cost through the union. The clauses on which no agreement was reached were referred to the Arbitration Court.