ANGRY SHEARERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2153, 20 May 1914, Page 7

ANGRY SHEARERS

MUCH CRY & LITTLE WOOL

ABOUT A DEPUTATION

Thero Was some angry talk at tho final sitting of tho Shearers' Conference yesterday about an alleged'refusal on tho part of tho Prime Minister to' receive a deputation from tho conference. The discussion which took placo is set forth at length in the official report, but tho essential points appear to bo that Mr.. M. Laracy (general secrotary) reported that lie had rung up tho Primo Minister's privato secretary at 11 a.m., and asked at what tiuio tho Minister would receive tho shearers deputation that afternoon, as arranged. Tho reply (according to tho official report) was that Mr. Massey could not meet the. shearers' deputation. ; MrLnrac.y stated that a definite promise had been given, and that southern, dolegates had waited in Wellington for tho purpose of attending: . Ultimately, Mr. Laracy/ continued, the privato secretary aaid that ho would ring up tho conference later in tho day. Tho official report goes on to stato that the 1 .conference rosolved: lliat, unless the shearers get a telephone ring from Mr. Massey this afternoon, no further steps be ■ taken in the 'way of waiting upon him." No such message, the report adds, was received, and therefore no deputation waited upon tho Prime Minister. The official report of tho conference reached The Dominion at too late an hour for tho allegation it contains to bo submitted to tho. Primo Minister, but earlier in the evening a reporter had asked Mr. Massey whether the shearers intended to conform to their annual custom, aud send a deputation to wait upon hiin. Tho Prime Minister replied that a deputation was proposed, and that ho had been unable to reccivo it that afternoon, but expected to do so on tho following, forenoon (this forenoon). ■It is therefore quito clear that the Prime Minister had not refused to receive tho shearers deputation, although evidently some hitch arose in regard to tho timo of meeting.

Conference Business, 1 'At its sitting tlio conference resolved unanimously: "That tho .Shearers Association take steps to form an amalgamation of all the rural workers unions in New Zealand and that-a ballot ot the members bo-taken this season to bringabout this amalgamation." ■ It' was'resolved that the Shearers Association be represented at tho July Congress by Mr. Laracy. x . . Various officers wore elected and the president and secretary were instructed to sign the shearers' agreement forthwith. ,

In regard to the sedition cases it was unanimously resolved: "That this conference deprecate tho treatment l given to Messrs. Holland, Young, and others in connection with the recent strike, 'expresses its sympathy with the wives and families of theso* men, and asks for the immediate releaso of the condemned men; and that this conference also puts on record its condemnation of the obsolete and absurd sedition laws by-means of which men have been imprisoned and' urges tho immediate repeal of theso laws."

Tho secretary reported that the membership of tho association was now 4093.

A vote of condolence was passed -to tlio. wifo and relatives of tho late Mr. W. Sponcor in thcifr sad.bereavement. Votes of thanks were carriod by acclamation to tho president, secretary, and official reporter. "'i-Tlie' president; 'after 1 returning: thanks, announced that he would not be standing for election as president after next year. Ho congratulated delegates 011 having held the most- successful conference in tho history of-tho association. ■ '

The conference closed at 5.25 p.m.