THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 820, 18 May 1910, Page 8

THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

POSITION IN MARLBOROUGH. Tho intention of the Marlborough Shearers' Union with regard to tho pending disputes in. Wellington and Canterbury wero explained to a "Marlborouijh Herald" reporter by the president, Mr. J. Towuscnd. Tho rates ruling in the province aro 18=. per hundred for machine shearing, and £1 per hundred for hand bearing. It is desired to make the rate .£1 all round. Some stations pay a uniform rate, but the majority do -not, and tho local Shearers' Union has agreed to the principlo that tho £1 rate throughout should obtain, not only in Marll>orough but all over Now Zealand. In tho Wellington district ■ the £1 rate all round rules; Marlborough is next best with .£1 for shears and IS.?, for machines; Canterbury and Otago dro 18s. all round; and in fJisborne, where thero is no organisation, no recognised rate prevails,,- anything from 15s. to a £1 prevailing. The intention of tho Marlborough Sheep Owners' Union in connection with the Canterbury and Wellington disputes is not known to the Shearers' Union; but tho position is that local owners would be ablo later on to cite the shearers and ask that the Canterbury or Wellington award, if one is made, should, be applied to Marlborough. Tho local Shearers' Union intends, whether an award is made or not, to cite the owners and- ask for an all-round rate of £1, and also that woolshed hands be brought in at a uniform rate, yet undetermined.. The New Zealand Shearers' Association has agreed to the Marlborough Shearers' Union's appli ; cation to cite the owners for these'purposes, and the step may be taken any day.