SHEARING SEASON

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 57, 30 November 1917, Page 8

SHEARING SEASON

WORK GOING ON SATISFACTORILY

The shearing season is at its height at the present time. Inquiries have been made, near and far, by Mr. T. Moss, of the National Efficiency Board, as to how the farmers are managing, and from the many replies he has received he has been able to that, on the whole, the work is being gotHhrouEh, pretty satisfactorily. Hero and there have been cases whore sheepfarmers have been a bit short-handed, but there are no instances where they have been ,very soriouely impeded in the work. In some districts, whero tho runs are comparatively small, thero has been a good deal of co-operation with entirely satisfactory results. In other cases some farmers have commenced shearing a fortnight or so earlier than is usual in order to release the men from tho sheds a little sooner for the benefit of othors. The ruling rate agreed upon for shearers was 275. 6d. per hundred, but it is known that in somo cases 30s. has been paid, and in one the men stood out for 325. 6d. per hundred. Fine weather has been experienced gene-rally, which has largely helped the farmer in the busy season. Mr. Moss intends to meet the thrashing-machine owners and farmers in conference at Masterton to-morrow with a view to making arrangements' for the coming harvest. With a little organisation it is hoped that there will be little troublo in getting through the work, though there will bo more thrashing, to do this autumn owing to more wheat having boon sown than usual in response to the Minister's appeal.