THE SHEAREKS' UNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1623, 30 July 1887, Page 3

THE SHE AREKS' UNION.

| A meeting of persons interested was ( held last evening In the rooms of the [ Agricultural aod Pastoral Association Chrl.tchuch, ur.de' the auspices cf J the New Zealand Woolgrowora' Association for the purpose of discussing the question or tho Shearers' Union. Mr J. D. Lance, President of the Association, occupied the chair, and there were present Messrs J. Rutherford, W. Acton Adams, E. Uutherford, J. D«_ans, T. McDonald, A. O. Lang,. D. Rutherford, Davison, Koberta, G. D. Greenwood, O. Thomaon, Fox, L. C. Williams (Secretary ), and others. A deputation of six members ' of the Shearers' Union a't.nded, and were invited into the room. The Chairman said they wanted information as to why the movement had been started. He was decidedly of opinion that shearers were well treated, and that there was no necessity for the Union m New Zealand, however. It might be m Australia. Mr Slattery, Seoretary of the New Zealand branoh of the Union} was spokesman of the deputation, and said tbey wanted the movement to be Intercolonial Two years ago m New Zealand tbe equaiters wanted to cut tho price down to 12 i fid p.r 100. Some of the Canterbury squatters gave I6s Bd, but those giving 15. wanted to cut it down. He (the speak*.. ) had been a shearer for seven or eight years, aud had been an active canvasser for members of the Union. The fact of the squatters ln New South Wales combining to lower the prioe from £1 to 17s fid per 100 was tbe reason for starting the Union. They had also compelled the -hearers by agreement to purchase rations from one store. The Chalrm mi Bald he wanted to know about New Z. aland. Mr Slattery said that the season before last some of the New Zaaland squatters had tried to out down the price to 12. 61. Mr J. Rutherford said this would be on some of the Companies' stations. . Mr Slattery thought it was on a station at Waimate and at Murchlson's. Mr Rutherford said he had a place down South, acd he gave 16s. The Companies generally gave a bigger run of work. Mr Slattery considered that was no reason for lowering tho prioe. They had no doubt heard what the squatters said tbey would do In New South Wales this year — not to employ Union men, and endeavor to get thoir shearing machine perfected—but th© Union men were getting the same prioe they had before. In reply to a question, Mr Slattery explained the rule ln regard to the appointment of a Committee among the shearers ln a shed to consider discharges, eto., and to report to the head of the j Union. It was shown that there would Ibe no interference bet veen the men ani the management of the shed. Mr Roberts as a resident for twentyfive years m New South Wales, said he ; never had any difficulty In getting men i there, and if they did not Buit he simply ! discharged them. He had not beard of ' any shed where men were bound to get ! their rations from any particular plaoe. At tl c request of the meeting the rules i of the Union were read, and Mr Slattery 1 explaine 1 several oi them. In reply to the Chairman, Mr Slattery said he did not know how it win that £1 per 100 was asked fur lengwools ln the North Island, while the prioj was 16s 81 all round In tbe South Island. In reply ] Mr Lang, of Napier, he said he had never i shorn m the Nerth Island, bnt believed 1 there wore more longwools there than merinos, and he had heard they were generally sandy , I Mr Lang d.nled tbat North Island ' sheep were sandy. ' Mr Slattery pointed out that the £1 per 100 did not induce shearers to go up I from the South to the North Island. < Mr T. MoDonald said he had bad con- ' slderable experience as a manager of sb eds, . and he believed that shearers on the < whole were well treated m New Zealand, and that there was no necessity for the 1 Union, Mr Slattery said It was next to slavery ' m some parts of New Sou" h Wales. 1 Mr MoDonald said that had nothing to < do with New Zealand. Ho thought the ' starting of the Union here waa a little ' premature, and he was totally opposed to 1 It. i Mr Slattery aaked Mv McDonald if he ■ would then rather ccc a beglnnfrig' made < to cut down the price m New Zealand. < Mr McDonald dbnied that this would : be so, and If It was he would be one of < tbe first to encourage tho men to combine ' against it. Mr Slattery pointed out that squatters would have no difficulty m engaging their : men, as all they would have to do was to write to the District Agent of the Union, and no fee was charged by him. In reply to Mr Deanß, Mr Slattery a<tid that having a uniform price for the South Island would obviate the necessity for men to travel about the country seeking to get the best prices, and looal men would have a better chance of getting work. The Chairman asked that supposing the Union were formed into a powerful body, what guarantee had squatters that more severe rules woold not be reverted to. Mr Slattery said the history of Trades' Unions did not prove this to have happened. The Chairman maintained tbat the shearers bad now all that the object . of the Union sought to obtain. Mr Thos. De-vdney, one of the deputation, said, as an old shearer, he considered It to the squatters' Interests to pay good prices, as tho extra wcol taken ofi would pay for the shearing. He thought a atop should be put to the effort to cut down the price to 12s 6d. Mr D. Rutherford said that when some paid 12s 6d more would be found who paid 255. It was only some poor squatter m the Sonth, who could not afford to give more, who paid 12b fid. In reply to Mr Lang, Mr Slattery promised that further inquiries should be made with regard to the pric® for long wools m the North Is'aad. Mr Fieldgate, another of the deputation, addressed the meeting, pointing out some of the disadvantages shearers occasionally labored under. The Chairman thanked Mr Slattery for his information, and complimented him on tbe manner m which he had given it. The deputation then withdrew. It was agreed that only members of the Woolgro^verß' Association present should decide upon what steps were to be taken by the meeting. A letter was read from Mr D. McFarlane, Secretary of tho Amuri Sheepfarmers' Association, forwarding a resolution adopted by tbem to the effect that they refused to recognise the Shearers 1 Union, and had agreed not to employ any of its members. The Chairman said the question had > now narrowed down to ene of wages. There was nothing m the rules to interfere ' between the men and the owners of the ' shed. Were they now to go m tho direction of tbe letter from the Amuri ! Sheepfarmera' Association, or decide to do [ nothing ? It would be war to the knife , with the whole shearing body. Air D Rutherford moved—" Tbat tbe i resolution passed by the Amuri Sheep* I Farmers' Association te adopted. " He was ; not m favor of the Union, and had deoided i not to employ Union men. > Mr Fox (Hlghfield) seconded the [ motion. [ Mr Deans thought that an there were ao few members present, it would be better . not to adopt any resolution. 3 The Chairman said that if they did not j oome to some decision the meeting had t been to little purpose. When he read the . firat set of rules he had been quite against ( the Union, but after hearing the vlawi cf

Mr Slattery, expressed m suoh a moderate manner, he had modlfi d his opinion somewhat. It being f« ond that Mr Fox waß not a member Mr Rutherford's mot.ou lapsed, there boing no otber seconder. Mr J. ... Davison moved, "That the letter from the Amuri Sheopfarraers' Association be received." He considered j that tbe Association bad gone a little too far Mr Deans seconded tho motion. The Chairman said the eh-ids were open, and It did not matter rvhe'her the men j ! belonged to the Union or not | i Mr Ruber. s said the Union memb.rs | would then take steps to turn ont non Union men, as they did m New South j Wales. i Mr D. Rutherford was of the same opinion. Mr Davison's motion was then put and oarrled, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the ehalrman. — " Presß."