SHEEPOWNERS' & FARMERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 10

SHEEPOWNERS' & FARMERS.

FEDERATION'S ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of tho New Zealand Sheepownoii)' and rarmors' Iteration was held oil Wednesday. Mr. It. 1). Acland, president, presided, and the following representatives were present:—Messrs. J. Deans and K. liny (Canterbury). Col, J. O. Nicholls anil Mr.' Roderick MacKcnzio COtago and Southland), Mr. A. -I). Mci.eod (Wellington District), Mr. P. Pattulo (Hawke's Bay), Mr. H. B. Williams (Poverty Bay;, and I'\ H. Labatt (secretary). The president, in moving tho adoption of the annual report, stated that an agreement regarding shearing had been signed on July 11 last by Messrs. ,)'. Cooper (president) and Laracy (secretary), of tho New Zealand Shearers' Association and the secretary of Now Zealand Sheepowners', Federat-ior, providing for £1 per 100 all round for machine, blade and lamb shearing, to covor this and tho next threo seasons. It also provided that the president and secretary of the Shearers Association would undertake to uso their influence to securo that the association will tako such steps as will bo necessary to securo now shearing awards in place of those now in force, such new awards to embody only tho terms of the agreomont referred to, and to bo made for three j-eare from January 31 next. Tho Shearers' Association had subsequently intimated that during tho approaching season a ballot would bo taken to allow members to decide to adopt or otherwise tho recommendations of their president and secretary to accept the samo agreement for a further term of three years. In regard to breaches of tho Shearing Award, the federation had advised that tho judgment of the magistrate in tho caso Inspector of Factories v. P. A. McHardy be appealed against. The Arbitration Court had lccently heard the appeal. :»nd held that tho manager's action in dismissing tho men who had refused to shear the sheep they claimed to be wet, did not amount to a lockout. The appeal was allowed and judgment entered for tho defendant in tho action in tho Magistrate's Court. Reference was made to tho work dono by the Now Zealand Producers' Association, which had been formed with the object of obtaining better dock accommodation in London, and providing for supervision in the landing and handling of New Zealand produco. The movement had resulted in tho formation of the Bristol and Dominions' Producers' Association,. Ltd., with a capital of £100,000, and headquarters at Bristol. Tho chairman also referred to the work done by tho New Zealand Employers' Federation. On the motion of the president, seconded by Mr. P. Pattulo, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers wero elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. H. D. Acland (re-elected) ; vice-president, Mr. J. G. Wilson (reelected) ; lion, treasurer, Mr. J. Deans, and a 'council consisting of eighteen memh6rs., Oil tho motion of Colonel P. C. Nicholls, seconded' by Mr. A. D. McLeod, tho following resolution was passed:—" That ,tho attention of the Hon. Minister of Lnnda bo again, directed to the unsatisfactory position of compensation for improvements in cases where runs are not again , let on Pastoral Lease, and especially in regard to surface sowing, which cannot be removed as - other _ improvements caa b'o . under the existing law. The federation is of tho opinion that all improvements should bo ploead on the samo footing as rabbit-proof fencing."