SHEARERS' DEMANDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1741, 5 May 1913, Page 7

SHEARERS' DEMANDS.

THE CONFERENCE DECLARED "OFF." In response to a telegram dispatched by Mr. M. Laracy, secretary to the New Zealand Sheep-shearers' Union, to Mr. F. 11. Labott, the secretary ol' the Sheepowners' Federation, on tho subject of a conference with regard to the next award, the follow-in? reply was received:—"As you are aware tho Sheep-owners' and Fanners' Federation are quite prepared to meet your association in conference, it was not until April 5 that 1- received the conditions proposed by.your association, and immediately on receipt of them 1' circulated them amongst the affiliated unions. The replies ol tho affiliated unions have not yet been received by the federation, but on receipt tho federation will consider them, and arrange to confer with your association as soon as possible. It will be quite impossible for our federation (o meet your association by May 7. In reply Mr. Laracy has telegraphed:— "Hegret having to declare negotiations for a conference at an end. Will declare our terms to-morrow- and depend on members to gain them." He has also cabled to the Australian Works' Union to assist them, and asking Australian shearers not to come to New Zealand if the demands are not acceded to. The wages asked for are 225. Gd. per hundred for blade-shear-ing, and .£1 per. hundred for machineshearing. DECISION BY FARMERS. (By Telegraph.—Special Correepondent) Wanganui, May 4. The sheep farmers of Waverley decided last week to resist the demands of the New Zealand Shearers and Woolshed Employees' Union. The same matter came before the Falmerston Branch of the Farmers' Union at their annual meeting yesterday. ' Mr. Balsillio considered that, as re- ] gards tho hours of work, the matter j should be left in the hands of tho employer. On largo stations it would b© absurd to fix a definite time for starting work. The fanners might meet shearers in the matter of pay, and decido on 1 a uniform pay for lambs and sheep. He | thought that if would be awkward if (he shearers went out on strike. Mr. Barber: They won't go out on strike. They can't afford it. In tho discussion that followed, the opinion was expressed that .farmers must tight: for tho principle of tho thing, and if was suggested that the farmors should train their own boys to do the shearing. Eventually tho meeting resolved, on variott.s clauses, as follows:—lloure of work to bo mutually arranged; rato of pay, .£1 per 100; grindstones to bo not less than twelve inches in diameter; dogging and crutching sheep to be. considered dagsjed if done three weeks before shearing; present, rate of 3s. Gd. per 100 quite adequate; clause that fares bo paid to all shearers and shed hands from place of engagement to sheep station unreasonable; lost lime in cay? of machinery breaking down, etc., clause deleted; term of award at least three years and not six months as demanded; award to come into operalion oil September 21. l