RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 248, 20 October 1936, Page 3

RAETIHI

SHEARERS’ AWARD WAIMARINO OPINIONS At a meeting of the Waimarino branch of the Farmers’ Union held at Raetihi on Saturday night it was decided to take steps to have an alteration made in the shearers’ award, which came into force on September 1, 1936. Mr A. S. Ashmore, president of the branch, was in the chair, and there was a representative attendance of about 25. Satisfaction was expressed at the inclusion of the caluse ' exempting members of the employers’ family or permanent hands temporarily employed assisting workers from the provisions of he award. Mr D. D. McLean (Kakahi) urew attention to the clause relating to the hours of work. "All shearing shall cease at noon on Saturday," he considered as most unreasonable in a district such as the Waimarino. Mr T. Barnott pointed out that in this district it was nothing unusual to have two or three wet days, and shearers and farmers were anxious to get shearing done when the conditions were favourable. It might happen that the men were wanting to get away to another shed and had a few hours’ work to do to finish. He thought shearing should be allowed on Saturday if both sides were willing. The secretary, Mr William Jack, pointed out that the hours were limited to 44 per week, not more than nine hours per day. Saturday halfholiday was compulsory under most awards. A member said it ,vas no use, when working with nature, to attempt to make a hard and fast rule, applicable to all places. Mr McLean urged that farmers should be allowed, if the shearers were willing, to go on with shearing after noon on Saturday. When shearing ewes, an hour or two might make a big difference to the lambs. In the interests of the farmers,the shearers and the sheep, he thought the clause should not be strictly enforced. Mr M. Geraghty remarked that the half-holiday and the shorter hours had been introduced to lessen the unemployment problem and were to ne found in most awards, if not all. The secretary read the clause dealing with Sundays and certain other days. Shearing on Sundays, Christmas Day, Anzac Day and Good Friday, was strictly <prdh'.bited and was deemed illegal. Messrs i'. Todd, H. Fredericks, A. P. O’Neill, A. Barrow and others expressed themselves as of the opinion that in this district, where the circumstances warrant, shearing should be allowed on any day. Several speakers said they would have no nesitation in being a party to the breaking of the award with regard to the hours of work. A member asked if there was a penalty fixed under the award. The secretary said that would be a question for the magistrate after hearing all the particulars. Mr J. Handley was satisfied that no magistrate would impose a fine or even convict for a breach of the award under circumstances that frequently arose in this districl. The weather must be taken into account when shearing sheep. The chairman asked members to try and carry out the award for this year. The agreement had been made after a conference with representatives of the Farmers’ Union and Sheepowners' Federation and the Shearers’ Union. These men evidently thought the provisions of the award could be carried out. He asked members to get a copy of the award and, as required, have it posted in the shed. Mr E. A. Ingram said most of the clauses were the same as in the last award. Mr D. McLean moved: “That owing to the wet climate of Waimarino district the clause dealing with hours of work in the shearers' award is considered unreasonable. We ask that if shearers have not had an opportunity of working 44 hours up to noon on Saturday, and they are willing to do so, they should be allowed to continue shearing. This resolution to be sent to the Minister of Labour, through the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union.” The motion was carried unanimously.”