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SHEARERS' DISPUTE

AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT DOMINION AWARD NOW SOUGHT A complete agreement on the points in dispute between the elicepownere and shearers was arrived at ye-sterday, and sti'iM are to be immediately taken to uiitfco thq n Dominion- award. The matter was heard before tho Conciliation Commissioner '(Mr. \V. Newton), nnd the conference discussed the various points throughout Tuesday nnd yesterdav. The matter was originally before tho representatives at a conference held in Wellington in June last, and again more recently ut Christchurch, when a number of important points in disputo were pttled, and it was agreed that those points should be adopted - in respect to tlio present dispute, and that argument should be confined to the reinnining disputed points which comprised the . demands made by the Canterbury shearers nnd shed, hands. Tho respondents tabled the Canterbury demands as their counterproposals against those of the sheepowners. which have already been published.

When the discussioi opomd yesterday the Commissioner Mid that he hoped that there would be a serious attempt inado to settle the dispute without recourse to the Arbitration Court. Should the parties como to an agreement now there would be every chance of a more satisfactory understanding on both sides than would follow if the ruling of the Court were sought. Several sheepowners from Otago had arrived to fake part in the deliberatioi.s, which he trusted would trnninatu .satisfactorily.

Mr. C. Grayndler, agent (Wellington), eaid that tho representatives of the shearers nnd shed hands had considered tho offers of the employers, and while they wero willing to accept •-■Hβ or two offers, t'hev were not prepared to accept all of thom. He stressed the need for more wages than the employers offered, nnd asked that; their demands be considered scrionelv. If the eheep'owiwrs werereceivinc 3s. and U. per pound for their wool, nii'l refused to pay the shed hands a living wage, they would not remove ihfl discontent. "It is no time to play. The shearing season is on hand, and there is not sufficient time for the matter to co before the Arbitration. Court." Tho speaker then quoted the remarks of Sir James Wil.'oo made at the Dominion Farmers' Conference on Tuesday in which he urged upon the employers to consider the workers -more than they had in the past. Sir James Wilson had also referred to the profit-sharing, system, and although he (Mr. Gr-ayndler) recognised that the system emild not apply to shearers and died hamls owing to the. casual nature of their employment, he took Sir; Janice Wilson's remarks to mean that the farmers were prepared to meet their employees in a better way. After an agreement was rebelled on the question of pay for shed hands, there was considerable discussion on ilie pay of cooks. Subsequently Ihis irna settled, and the agreed rates will apply to the whole Dominion. The most important clauses of the agreement are those relating to pay. Rates of Pay. The following are the nt-w rates of pay :— Shearers: M 10s. per 100, with rations. Tho snine rate to to shearing lambs. If the shearers ■ find their own food an additional As per lOfl sheep is to be paid. The rates me stud sheep are to be settled by agreement with the employer. Hogget rams rate and a half, ami other rams double rates. Shed hands: I'ressera, by Iha week, .£!) lOn., bv tho hour, 25.; wool rollers and nil other shed hands, £3 ss. per- week or ]s. tOd. per hour; youths over 1(1 and under 18 years of age, £i l'k per week or Is. Gd. per hour; cooks, M per week for twelvo men or uncle''j over twelve men tho wage" will be fi.T«l by agreement between the employer snd the cook, but ho shall not receive less than the minimum of £1. For the purpose of comparison the old rates for shed hands wore:— Pressors and wool rollers. .£2 2s. fid. .per week; all other shed hands. £2; cooks, .£3; assistant cooks. £2. The rates pw hour with the exceution of conks are 1i;. 3d! and Is. 2d. resneotively. . Hates ask-jtl for pressors and wool rollers were .£5 per week, or a. dailv rate of £l'os.: other shed hand!-. M ner week; ccoV« for ten men, £5 per week and up to .tB.

Danging. When the conference had agreed to the above-■ rate? Mr. Grayndler expressed n desire that, ft clause relating to dagging be included in the agreement. He considered that shearers should receive additional rates for (lagging. Mr. A. D. M'Leod (Marti nborongh) obiecled to the inclusion of the clause, and was supported by the other shipowners present. Ho said that if the shenrere' reuresentutivea could not sue their way to drop thfi 'clause- his side would have to terminate the conferi'iici, and place thfi matter in the hands of the Arbitration Court. The conference had been carried on ii! a-splondM'manner, andnn y honest attempt had been made to bring about a settlement. Mr. lirayndler. in reply, sdmittod that Urn conference had been n splendid one, but he thought that something bliouUl be included in tho agreement regarding dagKing. He suggested that a clause be ,included lo the effect that shearers and slieepowners mutually arrange . what extra rates should be paid for (lugging. Considerable discuasio-i followed, iu which the shearers' representatives decided to waive the question, but held tliat it was n contentious matter, and something would ultimately havo to be doue to fix it up. The representatives then agreed _ to sign the agreement, which 'comes into operation right away, and will be dated September 1, 1919. The agreement will Tsmiain in operation till February 28, 1921. On the motion of Mr. 11. D. Akland, president of the Ne.v Zealand Sheepowji-ei-.-s' Federation, seconded by Mr. A. Cook /Christchureh). a resolution vns carriod asking the Arbitration Court to make a Dominion award.

The Conclusion, The Commissioner e.tprrsed himself as exceedingly pleased with tho result of tlie deliberations. He hoped tliat the agreement arrived at would be observed loynllv bv both parties. Mr. M'Leod. oil behalf of the employ--ers, expressed similar sentiments, and complimented the Cemmieiioner on the manner in which he ha I conducted the conference. Mr. Giravndler al»o spoke, and fiaid that ho w.is pleased with the results obtained.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190918.2.90

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 303, 18 September 1919, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,043

SHEARERS' DISPUTE Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 303, 18 September 1919, Page 8

SHEARERS' DISPUTE Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 303, 18 September 1919, Page 8

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