SHEARERS' UNION MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 718, 18 January 1910, Page 6

SHEARERS' UNION MATTERS.

■ THE MASTERTON BRANCH. - (By TeleKraph.-Special- Correspondent) ; i MastertonJ January-17. {: 'The; Masterton branchtof. the • Shearers' lUnion has:decided;to forward the-follow-ing remits to ..Wellington,.for ithe 'ephfer-. ence which is to be held in March next; ••• >.f<. " f ; • (1) That 48 hours shall' constitute ' a week's':workl''same^'to'cease■ at 13' • ■;/ noon' oh'/Saturdays, i-wp r ~j. q;/... (2) That all'-experts'be required to ' , ■- (SJ/Th^^toysheep'^lw.ihade' free.fMm:.., dags'; at,' the''•;stteepojmer's':eipenae upon.being, shorn.' j.'.. .. v.; 1 (i)' That ; tho inspector of accommo->--daaoa be authorised, to oiainine Ltha .. sanitary -. conditions; of woolsheds." . i : . : ,(5) That ho~member" be permitted:to; ■ nso broad combs, unless, same are pro- .' vided'. by ' the - = sheepowner • for all: hands. '":i .V .'' . ''i (ii) l 'That' cahdidates' for membership: who have; ih' the> past; refused-. to \ join,' aiid who are uriable/.to vgive./; satisfactory'., reasons ./.for same,' - be' ■ charged double"'entrance: fees.., \

Mr: P.'' F. D'Arcy, ' general' secretary, of , the -Mew■: Zealandi.'l'ederated , .Shearers,' ;who ; is ? at; in'. Mastorton;'.'and ■ia acting for:;the- local: branch; ih/'the ab-sence-of ' Mr.' E. ; Abbott,- has forwarded ■ the. ' following letter to the '.' Masterton A. 'and' P. -Association':—"By direction/of the above,- I have much pleasure in. brihging' ! nnder/your'' - notice th«i matter of ' establishing : a. registry, office: for the - engagement •; of- v workers, oulaxly of . shearers'/ and shed';-hands. _ It ■occurs to .iis.:that;'--as -both'/your'/sbcietj: "and- ours maintain'"office?- at the present; time; shch ah undertaking .wouldlittle, ';if; any; ''additional '. expense,--: and wo.hld. be'.productive" of i'great benefits both pal-ties. : T.et'; mo hasten ,to' assnre; yoii; that iny union 'has no desire' to: inter-, fere in any,.way i; ih/the choice/of; em-, ployees. We' recognise 'that' "employera i have an/ absolute' right :to., a - free'; hand; in the matter, our only conpera -being : toj assist shearers and: others in' securing themaximum - employment "at a ininimnm: of cost'and inconvenience," and to;protect; them from the rapacity of the privately-' run' l registry '■ offices.-' -The. advantages to," sheepoivners .would be equally. gretafßy; ,adopting this/'suggestion,' they ; would be. tapping,: and, to a. large extent,', controlling the sources, of-.labour supply, instead of, as at /'present, -loavi ng^" the .matter •:largely to-. Chalice:'.Should.these 1 obfjects' commend themselves to your mem-; bers (and.they surely will, I .trust), the matter will receivocaTeful and able -'consideration, and ./ we. :cajiv:. after-; wards the', question as tp.-what ■.way- and/to- what - extent; my union can: assist in- the. matter." ..- ! ;