EXEMPT NO FIT SHEARER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3000, 10 February 1917, Page 15

EXEMPT NO FIT SHEARER

Sir,—l notice in a country paper that Mr. Grayndler,. secretary of tlio Shoarers' Federation, is jnuch alarmed because sliearors aro being called "up to help ; defond their homes and property against the uncivilised Hun. Mr. Grayndler' says, inttt' alia, that their being called up may be tlio cause of hanging up ono of tlio most important industries ili tho Dominion; therefore, ho is going to act for .tho shearers who have applied for exemption, from military service. How kind and thoughtful of this Mr. Grayndler, who does not wish to see this particular industry hung up. Our war lords cry: More men, more men, and at Home, boys of 18 years havo now "to report themselves, but here in Now Zealand we havo a man practically assisting, others to noglect their dutios to tho Empire. Exempt shearers—what rot! ' ■\Ve are now well irito tho third year of this battle for life; good, sound men havo gone never to return; others are lving bleeding, from the marks of the Hun,' and thousands of our sons, and brothers," are at the.-present moment at the front, defending tno' ono good old flag, yet .this .-Mr. Grayndler is working in direct, opposition to: the great call—men. more men. Why? Because the shearing might ho delayed a fow. weeks next year. Tho shearing is acain just about finished, and all thoso . thousands of fighting hull-dogs away from our shores. Mr. Editor, it will be finished acain next year, n ntl still mere men will nave gone, but hundreds of returned mon who can shear, and others who oan learn to do so, will ha on the hoard at roll-call, more esnecially as the pav -por 100 has been advanced to 255., and in somo cases 80s. was paid. If shearers, aro to. be exonjpt, what about, all the hundreds of others wlio do the work connected with shearing, viz.: Shepherds, musterers, . fleece-o-men, wool rollers, wool classers, wool carters, cooks, and their off-siders, and a host of others—one, as important as the other. What about all these? Lot them go and defend the shearer's homo, whilst lio (the shearer) rakes the golden sovereigns in. Mr. just to let tho public know what this Mr. Gravndler cares about the wool industry being held up, please note: Just before shearing started —in fact, some sheds' had—a Mr. Grayndler wan touring tho country districts advising shearers not to start to-shear until they obtained a guarantee from sheep owners, promising to pay each shearer not loss tlian 955. for each hundred sheep 1 shorn. TTio Dannevirlco "Evening News" of November last, I think it was, in quoting some remarks of this 1 Mr. Grayndler, said that not only do 1 they want"sos. hundred, but they ; would get it; .otherwise tliero would bo no. sheep sTiorn. How consistent this ' is. About throo months back ho would 1 stop tho unless he got his ' way, and now ho is appealing to have all shearers of over threo_ years' stand- | ing exempted, from military service, because he s;fys tho industry mitrht -be 1 stopped. What does ho mean? Thanking you for space,—l am, etc.,. RABA AVIS.