The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1888. SHEARERS' UNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1847, 22 May 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1888. SHEARERS' UNION.

It will be remembered that during the past two shearing seasons a strong effort has been made to establish a Shearers' Union iu New Zealand for the purpose of conserving the rights and privileges of shearers. A branch ol the Australian Federated Union waß formed in New Zealand, and for some considerable time the head office of the New Zealand branch was situate at Waimate. Things seemed prosperous enough with the Union so far .as enrolling members was concerned, but when it came to paying an annual subscription and fixing a rate of wages under which to work, the difficulties of the organisation commenced. In the North Island there was a different price ruling for shearing from that in the south. In the south also there was a great variety of prices per hundred ruling for shearing. In the attempt to fix upon a certain thing the Union failed ignobly. The desiro of the management was to make one price all over regardless of differences in localities and differences in sheep. Of course there was a good deal of talk indulged in shortly before the season commenced, but when the squatters put up their backs against the Union, shearers knowing well on which side their bread was battered did not presume to dictate to the employer what he should or what he should not do. The idea of Unionism for the time being was 'quietly shelved, and in no public way was any effort made, on the part of the shearer to show a bold front to the sheepowner and compel him to offer terms suitable to the dictates of the Union. From a report of a meeting held at Oamaru recently we gather that the Australian Union, which is reported to bo working well, has given up the idea of making headway in New Zealand, and, in consequence, has handed over to the officials in New Zealand all interest in the Union to carry it on as a local concern, or allow it to drop as suits the shearers here. From the following address issued by Uio head office in Australia it will be seen how the matter stands : — " We regret very much that, owing to the apathy of the New Zealand shearers, the executive has been compelled to give up the work of establishing the Union in your colony, and. has decided to hand over the charge of affairs to yourselves. Greater efforts have been put forth by us in Now Zealand than in any other place, and two seasons have boen occupied in canvassing and in trying to rouse up the shearers to a sense of the advantages to be gained by uniting. During the season, 1886-7, three of our best agents were sent over, who enrolled 2135 members. At the request of the shearers in your colony the president visited New Zealand and held a number of meetings. These were followed by a conference at which rules were adopted, price fixed, etc. At >our request Mr J, t lattery was appointed secretary, and it was expected that the Union would have succeeded as in Australia. Beforo the shearing season of 1887 8, however, we found that of 2277 members enrolled only 889 paid up their contributions of 5s each. .Wo also found that shearers who had previously agreed to uphold a certain price, on the approach of shearing, offered to work for a low figure, in some cases reducing it below that offered by the shcepowners themselves. Not willing to give up your colony we again sent agents over, but I am sorry to say that these met with a very cold reception in • deed ; in many cases shearers not only refused to join but took the trouble to get out of tbeir way to induce the sheepowners to refuse admission to our agents. Many who expressed themsolves as strongly in favor of an Union would not assist in forming it, leaving the work to others which they ought to have done themselves. No reason was given by shearers for not joining. Those who'had not paid up gave as a reason that they only joined just to see how jt would get on, and appeared to quite forget that to make it succeed it was only necessary for them to Btick to it, but by all leaving it the Union was bound to fail. New Zealand shearers, appear to think that the Union is something outside themselves, and that it is a something that is to do all things for them without any effort or sacrifice on their part. They do not appear to realise the fact that the Union is a combination of individuals, and it is successful or otherwise just in proportion as each individual shearer is true to the rules he has agreed to. It was not in our power to make the Union a success without the co-operation of the shearers. Thfe hw keen practically refused, hence

the failure is nil your own fault, and no* that of the A.dU. We lind that the opposition to the Union is not nearly so strong on the part of the New Zealand sheepowner as it met with from the same class in Australia. A conference was held with them, and the way paved for harmoniously working together, but as the shearers declined to follow the eyample of others the arrangements could not be carried out. We were pleased to observe also that mnch better support was accorded to the movement by the Zealand Press than by that of Australia. It will be seen therefore that everything in JSew Zealand was favorable except the persons who were to receive the greatest benefit, and on their shoulders must reßt the onus of failure. The total cost in connection with the New Zealand Branch is £1043 3s Bd, towards this amount only £654 4s has been contributed by the shearers in your cclony ; thus not less than £388 19s 3d has been expended by Australian shearers in trying to establish the Union in your colony. Wo do not grudge the money, and would spend more if there was any encouragement given to us, but seeing that nothing was gained we do not feel justified in continuing. It has for the above reasons been decided to aekyou to form an independent Union aud manage affairs your own way. We can assure you of the sympathy of the shearers on this side, who are very anxious to see you organised like themselves. We will give you all the help in our power, and will, as far as possible, prevent members from going over during the shearing season, so as to give you a better chance. We trust that you will not allow the start already made to be without fruit, but will at once set about organising, and prove that New Zealand working men are not behiud those of our colonies. We trust that the immense benefits already gained by the shearers on this side through the Union will incite you to take a similar stand. Owing to the shearers proving true to each other, last season over 500 sheds were gained for the Union in New South Wales and Victoria. In New South Wales the men gained a reduction of -price in rations and requisites equal to 10s per week, which sum was therefore added to their wages, and the price raised 2s 6d per hundred, whilst in Victoria the price was raised from Is to 5s per hundred. This was gained in the face of the strongest opposition ever brought to bear against any Union. The Union is now firmly established, and work will go on under 50 per cent better condition f th *n obtained previously. What has been accomplished here can be done in your colony if you take the same Btand, and are actuated by the same spirit of Unionism." The foregoing reads very well and if there were any necessity we should not be of those who object to shearers banding themselves together to secure, any special object. The Union in Australia may be necessary and may be altogether a good enough thing in its way, but in New Zealand so far as we know, there is no more necessity for shearers to go into Trades Unionism than there is for harvesters, ploughmen or any other class of workmen who earn their sustenance from the sheepowner and the farmer.