THE SHEARERS AND THE STRIKE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 11

THE SHEARERS AND THE STRIKE.

TO TUB EDITOR OV "tHK PRESS." Sir, —In the midst of tho more serious aspects of the present labour troubles it is most refreshing to meet with such an entirely humorous incident as tho shearers' recent manifesto. It appears from the report of an interview with Mr Laracy, that tho shearers have- bccomo awaro that tho sheepowners of the Dominion are endeavouring to promote a striko of the shearers, and so (in Mr Laracy's words) to keep the wool on the sheep's backs.

That is a mere outline of the proposed comedy, but if wo fill in the details, wo shall be presented with tho amazingly funny situation of the sheepowners, squatters, and cockics, planning a scheme for keeping tho wool on tho sheep's backs, but the shearers, not to be oppressed and downtrodden in this way, have determined to get tho. wool off in spite of tho owners' wishes. The musterers and rouseabouts must necessarily bo assisting by defying tho employers and keeping tho sheds full, a.nd we imagine the infuriated sheepowner impotently raging, while the triumphant shearers jeeringly bid him "keep his wool on" if ho can. The thanks of the community are duo to Mr Laracy and tho shearers for providing this entertaining interlude. — Yours, etc., W.G.B.