NEWSHEARING SCHEME IS PROPOSED

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 May 1949, Page 8

NEWSHEARING SCHEME IS PROPOSED

Farmer-Shearer Corporation TAIHAPE, Last Night (OC).—A new shearing scheme envisaging the establishment of a Taihape Farmers’ Shearers’ Corporation with an office in town suitably staffed to handle the requirements of members needing shearers and shed hands, was outlined by Mr. .W. S. Quilter at the annual meeting of Federated Farmers. In an interview on Friday afternoon Mr. Quilter said the scheme was not entirely an Australian idea and contained many original features. “In Australia they have a different sort of system,” said Mr. Quilter, who added that his 14 years’ experience in shearing sheds included a period in Australia. He had “been through the mill,'’ having worked at all the different jobs associated with shearing. He was enthusiastic about his schome, which he thought would fulfil a longfelt want. He handed a “Chronicle’’ representative a copy of the proposals embodied in the scheme and explained that the proposed Taihape Farmers’ Shearers’ Corporation would be a non-profit organisation of fanner, shearer and shed hands, which will aim to eliminate the present haphazard system whereby farmers arrange with contractors to attend the sheds at specified dates, but where inclement weather and other causes so make delays that one the one hand farmers are continually uncertain as to when the shearers actually will

arrive, and on the other hand shea* ers are coming to town seeking work in the height of the season. For the information of the corporation a preliminary meeting of all concerned will be called and tentative officers will be elected from all who register as members. To these officers will be entrusted the task of drawing up a constitution, which they will submit to a later meeting. Suggested factors to be taken into consideration by those drawing up the constitution are as follows: (1) The establishment of a town office, suitably staffed, to which farmer members can apply for shearers and shed hands, and at which cooks, shearers and shed hands may register. (2) The of lice to receive from farmers and station owners by a certain date, notice of the date on which it is hoped that shearing will be commenced with notice of number of sheep which are to be shorn, so that the required number of hands may be sent out. (3) The office will draw up a rota as near as possible to the dates specified. (4) Shearing hands will be directed from shed to shed so that there will be little or no delay. If necessary, penalties will be imposed on hands failing to be at the sheds at the time directed. (u So that the smaller farmer will in no way suffer, larger gangs will be divided where necessary,, to meet his individual needs. (6) The corporation will formulate standard accommodation for shearing hands and will expect farmer n. embers to conform to those standards. Finance. The corporation will fix a standard rate to be paid to shearers each year in conformity with award rates. In place of the present independent contractor, leaders of gangs will be appointed at a wage agreed upon, and these contractors will be responsible to the corporation for the organisation of the work in the sheds and for the conduct of the gang under their charge. s

The gang leader will be responsible for the purchase and arrangement of the food for the gang after consultation with the farmer concerned. This means that the leader of the gang may purchase the food for the gang or purchase it from the farmer, if the farmer so desires. The gang leader will have the right to dismiss any member of his gang who, in his opinion, is not working in conformity with the standard set by other shearers of the corporation. The payment of wages to shearers will be in conformity with the custom prevailing amongst shearers. When the matter was discussed at the annual meeting of Taihape Federated Farmers a member asked where an office would be procured.

Mr. Quilter replied: “Build one.” A voice: Where? Mr. Quilter: Right here in Taihape. Mr. Quilter remarked on Friday that a meeting of shearers was being called with the object of making preliminary arrangements to get the scheme under way. WHAT’S IN A NAME? During her stay in Holland, Mrs. L. Horn, Dominion secretary of the N.Z. Women’s Institute, stayed with Mrs. Mary van der Doer de Willebois In-gen-Housz, wife of a judge of the Dutch Supreme Court. The conference which Mrs. Horn attended was held at the holed Krasnapolski at Amsterdam. PERSONAL. Mrs. F. Oldham has returned from a visit to Taupo and Tauranga. Mr. W. Dowling, a former Taihape businessman, now residing in Wellington, spent a short time here on his way to Cambridge this week. The Health Inspector, Mr. J. Linford and the Department of Agriculture instic'ctor, Mr. W. 11. August, attended a special meeting of the Taihape Borough Council on Thuix'day ('Veiling to give information in connection with the council’s milk scheme. Mr Fred Fleming, a former resident of Taihape, has joined the literary staff of the N.Z. Listener and is stationed at Auckland. Prior to his latest appointment he was attached to the information section of the Prime Minister's Department at. Wellington, and quite recently he ap- ' pcared in a news reel depicting a visit . to Kapiti Island near Paraparaumu. A bullock weighing 11.381b5. deadweight was on view in a local butcher’s shop this week and attracted more than passing notice.