SHEARERS' WANTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1712, 1 April 1913, Page 6

SHEARERS' WANTS.

A DISCURSIVE DEPUTATION. THE ACCOMMODATION ACT AND POLITICS. SOME WARM EXCHANGES. SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER. About twenty shearers, delegates to the Dominion Conforence, which has lately Leen sitting in' Wellington, waited upon the Hon. W. F. Massey (Primo Minister and .-Minister for .Labour) < yesterday, and spent over'two hours in a recital of al-. leged wrongs and grievances. - It was stated that the deputation represented, general agricultural workers, as well as" shearers., Mr. :J. Lonlas (Secretary for Labour) attended. Mr. A. H. Hiiulmarsh, .Mil'., introduced the deputation.,. , _ Mr, J. Cooper, president of the Shearers' Federation, told the Prime Minister that the deputation had to.'bring under- his notice a number of eases in which acts governing tho shearing, industry weru considered to be. deficient" * > <■ ' '

Mr. M. Laracy (sccretoy); Sftid that lie had-been ajked to raise l the-question of Dominion awards. As ho received a let-ter-from tho Prime Minister a few days previously, stating that he already had the proposal under • .consideration, '.arid looked upon it, favourably, itwas unnecessary .to enlarge upon . this subject now. Mr. Massey: I will give the House an opportunity of considering-it.- V".,'.' ' Mr. M'Eae asked that yolk-boils should be added by Order-in-Cotuicil to the list of diseases .in respect of which compensation could be paid. The disease, known as yolk-boils was a form of b!ood-poison-> ing simiiaV :to anthrax. Sufferers from, the disease were debarred from employment during a lengthy period. . He had himself already lost nine weeks from this cause: during the present. season. -Ho knewof five or six others.who.Jiad.suf-, fered from the disease this ■ season, and had heard of twenty or thirty, others whom it ,had>attacked. _ Other speakers ' save details regarding,, the painful nature of the disease, and the inconvenience .and of time to -which it gave rise.'- , , ,-V. ;. .The Accommodation Act.

Mr. Townsend said''that the'.present Accommodation Act did not meet the requirements of the, industry, ror one ■thing, it was applicable only to sheds ■where'six or more workers were engaged. It should apply to sheds any workers were engaged." On some small farms no - accommodation was : provided. ■The federation wanted the Act amended on the lines of the Queensland Act, which, pro-, .vided, amongst other things, that not more, than 4 men should be lodged,in one room. .'This/would ensure privacy and do away with the conditions existing in, some parts of New Zealand, under which. 40 or oO men were lodged in oii£. barn-like structure.' At the recent'conference resolutions had been received from J2O sheds, stating that' the Accommodation wis unsatisfac-; 'tory. The;-present : Act .did not . demand that washing facilities should be provided in anv shape or form.. At some sheds the men "had to go out and,wash the same creek as -the cook 'took water, from for cooking, purposes. Ho had resolutions from twenty- , sheds -complaining ,of the nature of the water supply. Under the Queensland-Act refuse ',: from the cook■house had to be carried: 300 yards away from the cookhouse door. The J<ew .Zealand • Act contained no suc'i provision, and 'the defeot sliould be made good. • Mr. Massey:. Are }'ou aware-that our Act prescribes ■ more air - space than the Queensland Act? . ■Mr. Tcwnsend: It provides more space, wit it does not provide separate rooms. Messrs. .Boone .and, Mee.'spoke of unsatisfactory condition's;'«t,;aheds.' in which they had worted, ■ . . ■ r '/" Mr. Massey asked for. definite particulars, and Mr. Mee said that thesp would lie supplied before' the. deputation left. . Mr. M'Eae Said that he had travelled through'Poverty'Bay ; as a union organ- 7 iser, and had not found ono shed at which the conditions of the' Accommodation .Act were ; complied • witU At these sheds the shearers ivere mostly. Maoris. Mr.,. M'Rae declared that Maoris were being , used by- employers for fhei sup- . pressiori of. lalx>ur organisations, .as they hail been used at Wailii and Huntly. '.

i ( . A Statement Contradicted. , *■ \ • Mr. Massey: I understand that this is a deputation from • the sheare'-;), and I i don't think you are justified in Baying i> that Maoris wore used to suppress labour , ' organisations at AYaihi and Huntly. I give you this hint that you had better leave that subject alone. iV.li .f Mr. M'Eae: I must bring it in, • Mr: Massey: If'you must, T simplyVeay,that the statement is not correct. I have 'a report from one of our officers on. the subject iri the room at the present time — it is a coincidence—he says that'the'facts 1 were not as you have stated. Mr. M'Rae: Maoris were used as Arbi- ' trationists. ■ ' ' .. Mr. Massey: Has not a. Maori a right' to join a union, if he wants to? v Mr. M'Bae: Certainly he has a right. ' Mr. MasseyYou ..would not object'to a Maorj juinirig the Shearers' Union. ■ . Mr.-M'Rae: I would be only too pleas--1 cd to see the.u all ill. He continued that i _ the squatters tried to fcvade the . Accommodation Act by using Maoris. The con- , ditions that existed in some of the sheds I were an absolute disgrace to a civilised 'country: He jknew of cases in which workers,- young . and old, of. both sexes, hftd to: huddle on, the floor of the same apartment. /-Squatters attempted to excuse these conditions'by saying that'they' were customj nry with'the. Natives, but his experience '..was that obtain / ' better conditions! l£iUMil{ae'further al- ! lepet! tliat the Act had not been complied J with in the Wairarapa sheds. At a station in Hawke's Bay 32 shearers and 1 about 40. rouscabouts had to oaihp in an I old blacksmith's shop, and cat out of .kerosene tins. \

Special Inspectors Asked For. Mr. King said, that' it-was necessary-to appoint special .'inspectors under the Act, men thoroughly acquainted with the conditions under which shearers'; andMother'' country workers laboured.; There* were many places, particularly in the North Island, w ; lieve the Act was not complied with.; He hud seen one Labour Departmemt inspcotor, a polidenian, come on the board in a shearing shed, accompanied by' the employer,.and ask the men whether they had any complaints. This, was notas'it should'be. The inspectors should conduct their investigations independently of tho employers. / Mr. M-'Leod said that the_ administer, tion of the lint Accommodation Act had not been satisfactory. Travelling through Hawke's Bay, as organiser to his union, he had seen \workers of both, sexes huddled on tho floor. No baths were provided. In one place only one sanitary convenience was provided for 25 Native workers of both sexes. Mr. Cooper said that he had.three years' experience organising in. Hawke's Bay and Wairoa, nn d could fully bear out what tho last speaker had said. Ho named a number of stations at which, ho stated, scandalous conditions obtained. Mr. Cooper added that in respect of G stations from Napier towards Wairoa permits exempting the owners from observance of the provisions of the Accommodation Act had teen issued four yeara ago, aiid were still rolied upon. The permits were issued originally by * the Labour Department four years ago, because tho places were then under offer, to the Government, but the station-holders still "travelled" on these permits. He expressed a hope that the Prime Minister would do everything in his powe/r to place Maoris on the same footing as Europeans. . • _ . • . ' Mr. Laracy asked whether the Government intended to enforce, the condi tipns of the Accommodation Act as much for Maori workers as for. whites? NO RACE DISTINCTIONS. Mr. Massey: TI' t o law makes no difference, and the present Government makes no different between Maoris and Europeans. The Government has no intention of making any distinction between tho two races. Mr. Laracy said that polioemen had

not given satisfaction in the capacity of inspectors under the Accommodation Act. ■ Various other particulars wero given by members of tho deputation regarding stations, at. which, it was alleged, there were failures to comply with tho Act. • A Visit to Mr. H. M. Campbell. ' Mr. M'Leod "said that he visited Mr. II; M. Campbell's station in Hawko's Bay, and: meeting tho owner of tho place, introduced himself as an organiser in. tho service of the Shearers' Union. Mr. Campbell then'ijaid (according to Mr. Mteod) :-"I thought that when we had killed' Ward we had killed you and all such pests as you with him/' Mr. M'Lcod added that Mr. Campbell refused to meet orders by his'shearers, in payment of union dues, '.as .provided by the award. Another allegation made was that at a Hawke's Bay shed, shed-hands were paid 7s. a, day instead of weekly or hourly wages;"as' provided by tho award .

- A Maori Representative, Mr. Morgan, a Maori, said that he had 1 been deputed, .by the Maori shearers of Poverty Bay-' district' to .endeavour to secure better housing conditions. The present conditions were very bad. He gave' details, as to the conditions that existed on a number of stations, and said that- the .Natives had asked him to do what, Being very poor,' the ■Maoris had to take what they could get. They .were afraid to complain about the c'xvjtilig conditions, lest, they should be ordered to.leave their employment. A Difference'of Opinion. Massey asked' whether' the general run of accommodation throughout New Zealand was similar to-what had been described.

Mr. Townsend: Yes,,it. is. Mr. Laracv{--In-Maori districts. . Mr. Massoyii/il ,am going to have this thing tei'r .'thoroughly inquired into and probed-to - the"bottom, i : Mr. Kerr- .suggested that inspectors should leave a certificate on. the accommodation which they inspected. 'Mr. Townsend-said that an amendment to the law was required under which all registry..office.!fees would, bo paid by employers of labour. They objected to men having to pay'.for the right to; work. As things now stood little work could .be got from the .Government bureau and at private offices workers had to pay 4s. 6d. What they desired was that employers should, be forced to uso the Government bureau.; , . .i , , Alleged. ■ Mr. M'Rae-said that shearers who engaged for a "run" of shearing had to pay 4s. 6d; for' each :shed at which he worked. These -registry, 'offices were used for the 'victimisation of: prominent and militant unionists. This had been admitted to him .by Mr- Welsh of Masterton. "He distinctly gave me to understand," said the;:speaker,: "that .there was not only myself, but others, in the organisation— it practically meant that he had a blacklist." , Mr/ M'Eae said that he did .not say that the' conditions were the same at every, qffice, but undoubtedly these offices were used for purposes of victimisation by, the. .employers. . ' Immigration Opposed. Messrs.; Mee,, M'Lennan, and 1 Boone stated that the shearers were opposed to 'arty further State-aided immigration until work had been provided for those already in the country who- wero now out of work. Some of tho speakers stated that there was a general slackness of employ-, ment-throughout the country at the present'time. ' ' Mr.. Kerr spoke in a similar strain. Mr. Laracy, that good honest toilers, were leaving for Australia by every boat. The propei; .policy would be to get. farmers ■'to' guarantee, say, twelve .months' work and then if the unions could not provide ,tlip'vmen' required immigrants could'he brought , in. . Mr. Kerr "advocated the provision - of small'leasehold foldings for the benofit ofcountry workers. . Mr. Laracy said that the shearers did not advocate giving anyone tho right to aicquire the freehold of a, worker's home.

PREMIER IN REPLY, A'VIGOROUS speech; THE GOVERNMENT'S MIGRATION 1'OLlOi". ' The Prime Minister rose to reply nearly an hour and'three-quarters after the deputation had entered the room. "I think you will admit," he said, "that I have given you every, opportunity l ,of ventilating your grievances, and you have taken advantage'of it; and I-don't'mind;"- As to the question of Dominion awards, he continued, Parliament would have au opportunity of dealing .with it next session. Regarding tlie disease known as "yolkboils," if it were similar to anthrax, he saw. too reason why-it should not be added to'tho list of diseases in respect of which compensation was payable. He intended to get "more'information about it. Regarding accommodation, he had been, some.wjiat surprised' at some of the statements made. : lie pointed out that some of tlie statements made were in conflict with jlthers..,; One member of the deputation ..had'said--that the instances described were ><the:geiieral rule, while Mr. Laracy had >aid.°;tliat they were exceptions. But "whether they were exceptions or not he was going, to have the whole subject fully inquired 'into,'and if tho law was not Keing.Co'mplied. with it would be enforced. The Prime Minister defended the employment of policemen as inspectors under the Accommodation Act, pointing out that it would-be- -very expensive to employ special inspectors to visit shearing sheds, as it would be necessary that all sheds: should be visited just before tho season opened. The agricultural labourer was in quite a different position because lie occupied his building all the year -round, ■while the shearer occupied his for three weeks.or a month in the year. Regarding a station mentioned by the deputation as one at which the accommodation for shearers was very bad, Mr. Massey read an. inspector's report stating that the place had been visited and found to be satisfactory, the Act being complied with in every respect. As to the suggestion that the .certificate issued by the inspector should bo posted oa the accommodation inspected, Mr. Massey agreed that thefiilea ,was a good, one.. . Mav Cooper ■ stated that the ■ inspector's report 'mentioned by tlio Priino Minister was inaccurate in somo respects. . The. .statement '-that had been made about' Mr! "Canipbell, Mr. Massey continued, was hardly a fair one.He had known Mr. Campbell for years before he entered the House, and 'had always heard both Mr. Campbell and his father spoken' 'of *as;;thg 'ntet'-considerate employers in Hawke s Bay."' Mr. M'Leod said that ho adhered abso,lutelyv,to -jfhat he. had said about Mr. Campbell,--iii" every particular.

Registry Office Fees. * Mr. Massey: No doubt Mr. Campbell will havo_somethinp to say al»ut it. 'As to-registry offices, the Prime Minister continue!, ho had already arranged for -a;, reduction of fees. Regarding immigration,' it surprised him to hear that there:.were, any unemployed-' at the present moment, lie liad j ust been on tour, in the South Island, and everywhere that.lie .went mention was made of the difficultyvof obtaining fijrm labour. . He had'expressedy the opinion that if this sort of . thin'g went on .it would lead to a rise in the' price of wheat and flour, because they would have to Ire imported. This would entail an inoreass in the cost of living. He did not think that there was any scarcity of employment, at tho present, ti.ijiej.but believed that every man wlio wanted work could get it. He made -this statement advisedly. Mr. Kerr'said that he know of a case in whieli a North Canterbury-farmer had paid a man (is. for 10 hours' work in tho harvest field. He named tho farmer in question, and slated that tho wages ruling for rural work in Canterbury were not: sufficient to induce men lo go out into the country. . , Mr. Massey: I think,that what you are saying will be a revelation to the farmers ill ■ Canterbury, when tliey read it tomorrow morning. Don't you eeo how foolish a man would be to take such wages when any man can got a (shilling or fifteen pence an hour for harvest work?

Immigration Policy. Returning to the subject of immigration, the. Prime Minister said: The Government'assists two classes of immigrants only."-First,-they assist domestic servants. Does anyone object to that? Mr. M'Eae: I do, if thoy are 6ent out to bogus agents who make them think they aro getting good wages ait a week, nnd take ss. a week for passage nionisv. ( Mr. Massey: Tliat has not been done

in our time, and I don't believe it has over been (tone, 110 was giau to see, lie auued, tnat even this deputation was almost -unanimous in approving tno immigration of domestic servants. Ml'. Laracy: As domestic servants, but not if they go to factories in threo weeks. Mr. Massey said tiiat before tho girls wero assisted a cemticato as to tuelr suitability had to be given by some responsible pel-son at Home, competent to give such a certificate. The only other class assisted by the tioyermnent was that of lariu labourers and men with small capital, wno were likely to bccoine set-tlei-i. Tlieso men wero not assisted to any great extent. lie uid not Kitiiw that the Uovernment was doing as much as it aiiouid do to assist tnein.

"An impression has got about," added tho Prime Minister, "circulated by a socalled newspaper in Wellington, tnat the Uovernment-intends to bring in 25.1M0 immigrants every year. This story has been circulated, for party purposes, by a man paid to misrepresent tho Uovernment, and it is absolute nonsense. We are going to assist domestic servants aiid farm workers because tha country needs such immigrants." 'Mr. Laracy: What about an award for farm labourers. Will you make, it, and fix a minimum wage by statute law? Mr. Massey: We cannot do it by statute law. Mr. Laracy: Are we likely to get an award soon!* Mr. Massey: You spoke.of numbers of people leaving the country. Tho fact is that during the eleven months of the financial year (up to February 28, 1913), the Dominion gained 11,000 people by excess of arrivals over departures. Most of these* people came from Australia to find employment in this country. Mr. Laracy: That is not tho question. Won't bringing in people tend to bring wages down? Mr. Massey: I believe that the recent arrivals; will tend to raise wages. Thero are more people on the land, so that industries "'will extend, and more einpoyment be provided. Mr. Laracy suggested that the. change effected .was as though a condition of two jobs for one man had been exchanged for one of two men to one job. -Mr. Massey dissented from this view. Tho class • assisted, he said, were producers, and every producer placed, in the country districts made room for a consumer in town.

"A Gjgantic Scheme." Mr. M'Eae said that the immigration policy was a gigantic scheme to suppress organised labour in this country. .1 understand, ho added, that you and your Ministers .'are just about, right. Mr. Massey: If . you have anything to say in a straightforward way, say itMr. M'Eae made somp reference to "an order from the Farmers' Union.". Mr. Massey: We have no order from the Union, and we take no orders from anybody.' Mr. M'Eae: The gigantic immigration 6cheme is going to be a lever against organised labour in this country. ' I maintain that your party represents most of the employers in this country. Mr. Massey: You are making a statement that is absolutely incorrect; We care no moro for tfte employers than we do for .the employees. 1 am glad to think that a great majority of the rightthinking employees support us, or we should not be ■ here. I am glad I got thafc from .you; now we,know wh6re wo' aro! Country Workers' Homes, Regarding workers' homes in the country, Mr. Massey-said- that he had been working on this scheme ever since attaining office. Provided any association of half-a-dozen people came along and gave the necessary -• guarantees, tlie Government would buy land upon which to establish these homes. How else-' could it be done? A deputationist: Tax tho big landholders. (

Mr. Massey: If you were a big landholder you would find. taxation heavy enough' already. He continued that subdivision had gone on more rapidly during the past twelve.months than ever before, and' ho would lav a return before Parliament to prove it. He intended to give country workers the right to purchase their homes. People in cities who occupied workers' homes wanted the right to purchase, .-and people in tho country wanted it also. ' Miv.M.'Rae: Another lover , of oppression! Mr. Laracy: If you are going to give the •right to purchase, you are going to sell all the land to all your friends. Mr. Massey brushed the assertion aside, and explained that workers' homes could be taken up in the.firstinstanoe only by people of small income, and could be sold only to bona-fide workers. Provision was made for deferred payments. He further stated that he had given instructions to the lands Department that when blocks of land were being cut up henceforth, areas of-five, ten, and fifteen acres should be provided, so as to give,tho small man; every possible chance. In conclusion, the Prime Minister remarked that he had met the deputation as far as he possibly could. He would see that the law was complied, with. As to the- charges made,- particulars must ;bo supplied. * " . Mr. Cooper asked whether _ the Prime Minister would set up a commission of inquiry into the administration of the Shearers' Accommodation Act.

Mr. Massey said . that a. commission cost a lot of money. That was the only objection he had to the proposal. He would not promise right off. Mr. Cooper thanked the Prime Minister for, receiving the deputation.