SHEARING RATES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 929, 23 September 1910, Page 6

SHEARING RATES.

THE WELLINGTON HEARINQ. UNION HOLDS OUT FOR 20sWILL IT BE FREE CONTRACT? The shearers' dispute came before the Arbitration Court yesterday, with Mr. Justice Sim (President) and Messrs. N. Scott and J. A. M'Cullough, employers' and workers' representatives respectively, on the bench. : ■ Mr. M. Laracy appeared for the Canterbury Shearers' Union, and Mr. W. Pryor , for the' Canterbury Sheepowners' Association. When -the case was last before the Court at- Christchurch,' Mr.' Laracy had stated that if the Court fixed 20s. a hundred as. the minimum rate for, shearing, the Shearers' Federation (of which he is; secretary) Vvould advise the men not _ to accept engagements at that rate. In view of this statement,: the ..Court declined, to proceed with, the hearing, and adjourned the ; caso to Wellington. ■ In the ..meantime efforts were made, to arrive, at a settlement the three. Conciliation. Commissioners sitting as .an informal tribunal for the purpose, but they have not made any .report. - '-■:.• Mr. Pryor,'reopening 1 the case for the, employers yesterday, .- said the position was. much the same as when the .Court -at ChristchuTch adjourned the hearing. The- employers desired a settlement, but requested a definite, understanding from the union that the award would be complied with. Ho now suggested that tne Canterbury -and-Wellington cases should be taken together. The '. sheepowners, and, he.-understood, the- shearers, 'also wished to discuss' the. Whole matter :from a Dominion point of.' view. -"■ ■ /'-..■■ ■ His Honour: .Tho shed hands'; .dispute is not before the: Court. - ; ','..-/';

; 'Mr. 'Laracy said : the were. to report on the Canterbury: case, ~ His Honour: Where is their, report ?. We have-not got it.',. : - : ;: V l ,..';— ■■•..■Mr. Laracy: They were to report, and the recommendations were to be. made into a;. Dominion, award.:'.; We, were expecting th,em: to: report, and : so ■. we. have /brought, no witnesses ;here. '■'.■: If . they have not reported, we have'no option but irei'dom; of .contract;. .•"■- .-.v.. :'•.-.■ ■"■-'■ i'.The judge: The question now is: 'you any'objection to taking'the'Canter-' bury, and -Wellington cases together?,/.; ',Mr. Laracy: I would prefer-to.have.the ■.Canterbury. case settled- first. :■-::,.- '..-■,: : : His Honour :'■. Very .well.. We 'will take', 'the.;Canterbury';casej:.nrst." His : Honour also explained-in reply ...to "a further , re-, mark that 'he ■.indicated at Chiiiitcliurch I that if the union'took. up.the .position; it was taking! up of declining to : , accept any-award that, was^.not:exactly: accord-; ing. to its views,,the. Court niight-sim-ply restore, freedom of. : contract,: .'.Nothing ' was .decided.' -V- : .;..- ''':!■ .:"y-'-:-}\ ■ ;•_-'• J: 'Mr..Laracy:'An' undertaking;was signed | %■■ both parties and agreed to——':'.' ■_■..■ .-His-Honour :•. We adjourned the' parties!; a' qhapce to agree; ;.and,*,nowvwe-;i resume, and, what: we (.shall'do will de-, pehd on-.what it put; before.us,".whether we.'rhake ah award.;' or'; restore freedom of..'contract, .'if: ;■.•;':.';.',' -'■'■;.:' ,-' ■.■•#,V , ''-:.-:-./ : . , J

,-:,■ The: Employers' ~, The':employers'''desiWX a-: Dominion .'award, .and they: "make -. this proposal; regarding she'aring rates: Lambs, 17s. 6d. per; hundred; -sheep,' by, maohine,' 18s. Gdi per' 100;. sheep, ; by blade,, 205.; per 100; with the: Canterbury award;con-' ditions.:-The'Caiiterbury •award-was made after an exhaustive inquiry,' the:'Otagp''. .'award., was ■ based on.- it'and', the 'conditions .'.had:' . proved most 1 .'-satisfactory.. There, were', the ..Canterburyi:- -Wellington,; and. Gisbbrrie. disputes;to be settled. •■':■ In regard to. the rate : for,-lambs,'it was formerly ;2s. 6d.'; less^; than', for .'sheep,;'.but; since <it v was made the. same '.Tinder.':the; Wellington: award very, few; lambs "had' been shorn. It:was to. the, interest of. eriiploye'rs; and'-.workers to. encourage; the'., shearing ;pf lambs, Touching the. differential rate ; as : between machine; and handshearing returns'.obtained: from., -,'sheepr owners,' showed that at.rpresent-.the ,men:. were, able: : td earn considerably .more'.bymachine'shearing'. It might, be said > that they w'ere asking to reduce, the rate .agreed on; in 'the last,.-Wellingtbn:award. That; award" was very unsatisfactory .to.'a;large portion; of ; the employers, > and'.-,'•;though '■ . was-,aske'd--.-for,.' so. far., as' Wellington was concerned,. it:.should be; noted:that.the'proposals• of the employers meant a;'considerable; increase; through-; :out ! :the,' : rest •', of the vDominion. ;lf : the; minimum: -was .raised those;. sheds'that were now paying: more, than - the'. minimum would have to raise .theif-rates' pro-; portiohately, •'■'■ and the "result 'in:: Canter--bury would be- : -an-.extra cost- of-d&1000 a 'year to shear' 4J000.000 sheep in" that' dis-trict'i-.-,The .23;million:>sheep.:ih New Zealand, according 'to last'year's sheep: re-, turns would "cost ,£23',000 more to shear, ■under.; the>proposals ..itiif. . : made by; the. employers., ■■'/;''■■.■:.■,'; '•.■;.:- -;'. ; ;?/ ; :- ': .: ; :

■ What the Men Earn. IVederick Hubert labatt, secretary.; ;of .the Canterbury ''SKcep6wriersV.Uni<Mi : and th<v ■New Zealand .Sleepqwuers' . federation, called 'by Mr:' ; piled.statistics from forms sent to: sli€ep- ; owners and filled in by them. /.Mr. Lairacy: I protest .against the- te ferbury case going on. in. tWs: \vay. ; .! Ths Judge: What, is your reason? . . : : , . f Mr." Laracy: I claim that on .what -yon said 'at; Christchurch we .are, entitled>.to; freedom' of. contract. .. ov Tho Judge: You can raise that point later on., Wo are: here'to 'bear case. ■ Witness, continuing, gave; his statistics, 1 showing, average earhirasper .day average per. week worked, .an<l average' per .week from 'start' to.;fiiiish .of ■ the 'sea-! 60n,; under'Oircurostaiicesas 'below:— ,

1 21s. 27 6 ' 8 5 0 . 6 0 0 *Men boarding themselves. fMen boarding themselves at', two of these sheds. 11l reference' to; his Canterbury figures, the witness explained the fact that more money .was made by the workers at 18s. : per .100 than at 205., by saying that the former'was the price at the big sheds, where there were more convenience's and more holding capacity.' If the minimum were raised to 205., those how paying 20s. would have to pay more. The sheep of which he had returns ' from' Canterbury numbered 1,306,913, out of which total over 80 per .cent., or . 1,088,028 were shorn ,at 18s. por 100. The sheep, shorn, by blade included in tlio returns of. tho Wellington district were -374,828, and, of these, 310,062 were shorn at 205.. a hundred. Those shorn by machine wore 022,740, and out of theso 540,437 were shorn "at • 20s. a /hundred;" Total sheep, 997,57 -

The Hawke's Bay and Poverty,. Bay.re-, turns showed 135,171 sheep shorn by' blade, and: 121,658 of these at 205.; 359,541 by machine, 335.8G8. at 20s. ■ - - Statistics fpr Otagp and Southland were also given, showing that nearly 90 per cent, of tho sheep in those districts wore shorn at 18s., and that the earnings for the whole season averaged from £3 IBs: Id. to £i 19s. 5d.. .. Shipowner's Evidence. Frederick Hubbard, Greenpark, Canterbury, farmer, and sheepowner, said he 1 paid 20s. a liundrcd and usuaUy boarded the men. This was more than tho big stations paid. The men said, they could 'get a better run on the big stations. If the minimum in the awaru were 20s. he would not expect to get his sheep'shorn at that rate.. Ewen M'Gregor, shecpfarnier, Ohaupo and . Huntefvillc, said ho was shearing 2000 sheep at the former place,'and 38,01$ at the latter; There was no' award-at Ohaupo -(Auckland district), and tho wages'.there.'wei-o 175., Gd. and found. 'He considered' that was.. equivalent, to 205.. The : number usually averaged 100 a day. Before , the present . .'Wellington '-award; came into lorce,' lambs: were generally shorn, and the rate-was 2s. Gd.less' than : far .'sheep.' Lambs were 'not usually .shorn now;'"' -'■',''■.■ ••■■.'• '-■'.'■. '■:'. ■■''''.-•.'''■ Mr.'Xaraey- did not call .any'.evidence., He said the federation would; accept the present 'Wellington award as the award, for Wellington, ■Otago, .Gisborne,;,.and Marlborough. , ■',• The Judge: That- -is-' all you 'have to ■say? ' w : - : ,'- ':-:.v.'■'■'•' -:-.."■;' ,'Mr. : Laracy: That is.all, your Honour.! The judge: That concludes the .hearing of the Canterbury dispute.-.The Court will consider -the matter. - ■■. . : ' : The -.'. Wellington. - ; dispute . : was : ,-: then ■ called." -.■..•';• ' v; : .< .-'■ ; -.'•'" '■."■'■•'!.' '.'■' Mr. PryorV iWe '.desire' a .Dominion , award; w'ith, the!same 'conditions through-': out.' ' AVe.:have .no further evidence to cku.:.'. :.■■'.•■;■ >■'v,. ;■;--."• .'-■"■.: -,' Mr. Laracy, on .being asked, .said,, he had' nothing further to :say.- .::;... ~; '.The*judge:. If .the .'Court decides .to, award/a lower minimum rate:than 20s;'a hundred, what -will.the- union do?.' ..'.'.'.' .Mr; laracy: : . We shall > abide by :'.the award.. I" understand: the. Court.; only : 'fixes 'a minimum.-';!-. .:;,'-.-'•' | . ■'.' :' .The.judge:'ls the,union going to allow' men to make.contracts for.less than-205.? . "Mr.■'.Laracy'i The union, can't, prevent: them'.'.: !. -. '' ■> ; !;;:';;!:\.-.- l ;:!''rv '■''■, ':'-'■:. " ■The': : judge: Will. the, ; :uhion: hot-; .inter-, fere with ,thehi ! ;if! they: 'desire-to; make such'contracts?'" ;;!/.-'' ;■',•''.'■'■•'•' /; : j-">; : ' -. .Mr. ;.;.liaracy: TKe....union'.' will viadvise. them hot. to.become .workers; witMh\the : hieaning of: the -Act '-.—r.': ! J- -.-■'' - ;',V"V' The judge ii Will! you.be'so. kind-as'. to' answer- my :questipn? 'Will you'rahstain: fromdnterfenhg .with the men' an'djallb.w: them- to. work'-.at the: rate" : fixed., by, : the': Court,'jaould.:it ; .bejbelow:2ps.\:per.:ioo, : ;if', :they.desire to do'Jso? '■'■*''. y:-.\ tCf. .' "•■'" i"'. 1 ."-:--; w'*. ;/Mr,",'L'feoy.:',Np,:';'.'Wo.';.wUV.'do- our.best, to advise ,'the men-ndt'-to,;.become work-:! 'ers -within-.the .meaning.'-!ofvthe .Act:.'for lesY-than .20s.' a!hundred;,';.>.;. ; ; ';!';;;! . .The. judge:..D'o; the.'employers'ask. r the. Court,to. fix:'a: 'rate;'in;• the': face..'.of that: declaration?-!'!'.'':';■'■:v.'i"'■.!•;.-r Mr. Pryor.."said,!th'ey!were in : ' an;awkward- fix.!; If, tho ; Court lestqred freedom • of! contract.':ihVjrpgaril to would.-like!to! have .the; Canterbury: con-; ditiohs. "for'other-"matters;;• but!!if:.' the Court fixed :a^rate l like ,it to. .be|:a differencial-irate; ■'!!;';!;:?:A,-'v: ; ;;;■ - ;.The' : :judgej;.Then'.practicallyj-'you, ask US' to fix -a-Jrate, -not^thjs.tanding^what' • Mr.';laracy!!has : said?!: i'v'' !:;•; ■:ii^''--^. V ! ; ': ; Mr.\- Prypr; said^ere/jwas.some; differ-: ehce vof ■. • opinion :"among' they'emDlbyerSi. ;■ would.-like : a>Bhort; .time 'to; 'confer.'and;intimate to'"..the Court:a'little.: later -what -they-; wbuhl'do:* >-' i'v:.; ■} '■■'■■■;; : f : . ! v His': Honour'.'''.The: case ;,will, beV'i.ad-' journed: until:;ldi.'o'clockvtp-hiorrow;';',;!'•:; . In reply; to! 'a-,.question"'raised;; Pryor,' s his:-Honouf.Vsai'd that would .hot.the sied'bands'.l;':-■!; '~i^:'W'F f :i:J.i

; CANTERBURY,: 1908-9. /'...• '0 Machine Shearing. * I I'' ibi.*0 : "$)© •' ti-S'rt " S-Jsi'2 ' ' ••-' *£ ® 0- ® •'-£2'"" • 9-'• ® v-?- ••'■•' $ st-9 w)" £' a ' J5 "«'■•- .5'St 5 >>MB GQ ' H; V • ., ,<1l3 fi> . <}.£ a> .'■■ '" p dS.§5 ''' . i. s.i d.- • £ s. d. '••' £. s. d. 4 ' 20s. 19 1? 5 16 4J 3' 2 D 11 ISs. 18 ll| 5 13 10i 3 IS 10 Machine and. Blade. 9 1S/-21/4 17. li 5 2 9 1 16 8 ' • • :.'. Blatie Shearing. ' 2-1 18s. 16. 71 1 19 9 3 11 6 CANTERBURY, 1909-10. . ' ' \ .. • Machine. .' . . 9 20s. ■ 1 1 4 6 8 0 4 6 4 37 18s. ' 19 21 5 15 3 4 11 G 2 18/6 16 2f 4 17 3 : 4 11. 9 ; 2 las. . 19 Hi 5 19 9 ;■ Blade. ' 33 20s. 16 11 4 16 9 :4 0 0 66 18s. . 16 5J 4.18 10 4 0 8 3 18/6 , 15 .11 ' i-15 6 4 7 10 WELLINGTON. ■ Blade. 72-. 20s. 17 6 5 5 1 4 7 0 20 22/6* • 18, 1 5 8 4 ■ 4 1 1 3 21/-25/t 17 8 5 6 0) 3 2 11 ' , ' Machine. 50. 20s. 23 8 7 2' 0 5 5 8 15 22/6 25 '5 7 12 5 "6 1 3 1 ■ 21s. 26 8 8 0 0 6 10 4 JIAWKE'S BAY AND POVERTY BAY. Blade. ; 17 20s* • 17 2 5' 3 0.. 3 8 11 1 22/6 "20 11 . .6 5 6 ' 4 0 . 9 Machine. 23 20s. 23 4 7 0 3 4 13 5 1 22/6 14 6 4 0 7 2 17 6