SHEARERS' QUARTERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 209, 23 May 1918, Page 8

SHEARERS' QUARTERS

COMPLAINTS TO THE MINISTER OF LABOUR. Complaint about tho alleged non-en-foroement of the law relating, to the accommodation for shearers .and other country workers was made to the Acting Minister of Labour, the Hon. W. H. Herties, by representatives from, the Ag-,' riouitural and Pastoral Workers' Union. It was alleged by various speakers on behalf of Jhe deputation that in different distrlota all over the country no ro{[aid was paid to the law, and apjarenty there was no effort made by tlie Government to enforce it. It was alleged that eEearere had to sleep in vermin-in-fested outhouses. The suggestion was made that the duty of reporting on the accommodation should liot be imposed on the police, but should be undertaken hy representatives of the Department of Labour. It was mentioned by one of the delegates that th» sheepfarmors of Marlfcorough had made the good for thoir workers.. ~..,.' The MlnUter said that, according to reports leoeived," improvements had .been made in.'some of the sheds which had been the subject of 'complaints,previous-. ]y. He.said that the '.Department 'was really anxious to.carry out the law as it stood, and he believed that the Department had made' efforts to compel employers to obey the law. , All the-stations' that had been mentioned by . speakers would be 'inspected; and if ■ possible improvements w r ould. bo. made. , If 'amendment of the law should be necessary, these proposals would be- submitted, to. Mr. ; Mas'sey, with a view to action next session. •■■•.■-