THRESHING MACHINE WORKERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11492, 27 January 1903, Page 5

THRESHING MACHINE WORKERS.

THE DEMAND FOR INCREASED WAGES.

A meeting of machine owners of the Lincoln and Springs district wae held in the Prebbleton Library on Friday. The chairman (Mr Perymaa), in his opening remarks, explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of fixing a uniform rate of charges for threshing,, and alao U> determine the irate of wwges to be given to the men. A deputation of the employee* was receivett, 'Meetrs Harper, Patchet, and' McNally speaking on their behalf. They requested that the wage* should be increased to 12s per 1000, which would mean a rise, in most cases, of 2e per 1000. They pointed out that the cost of living had increased very much lately, and they hoped that the owners would comply wiiti their request.

Mr Bailey proposed that a circular be drawn up, and sent round to all the ownera of machines, and those threshing in the district, miggeeting the prices to be charged for threshing, and the rate of wagei to be given to the men. I Mr Sharp said that unless a fair majority of the owner* wigatd the circular, it would not be fair to make it binding on the otliere.

It wae resolved that unlew ttore«-fourtb> of die owners eigned* tin* arrangement should be left ac at present. It was decided to make a differential rate for thwehing on the light and heavy land, and also a differential rate of wages to th« men. A very lengthy dfecuesion then took place as to the line of divieion between the light and heavy land, to wJiiob tibere appeared to be a great difference of opmion. It wag decided not to publish thcpricee or rate of wages agreed upon until after the circular had been taken K>und, and it was ascertained if a sufficient number of owners would bifid tiranselve* to abide by it.