SHEEPFARMERSAND SHEARERS

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 15, 16 July 1887, Page 2

SHEEPFARMERSAND SHEARERS

For some time past the Australian and New Zealand shearers have been working up a sort of Shearers’ Trades Union, branches of which have been formed all over the two islands and prices have been fixed upon and everything done to secure better wages and more suitable accomodation and food. The enemy (the sheepfarmer) is now however, on the move, for the Amuri Sheep Farmers’ Association have passed a resolution refusing to recognise the Shearers’ Union and pledging the members of the Association not to employ any of the Union’s members, neither at shearing nor at any other time during the year. It was also decided to “ take steps to ascertain what it would cost to bring Kaffir shearers fiom South Africa, as it is understood that good shearers are paid there at 6s per hundred.’’ A third resolution was also passed asking other Sheepfarmers’ Associations to join the Amuri Association in their stand against the “Shearers’ Uuion.”

As this stands, it is a pretty quarrel, but we should prophesy a speedy termination of the difficulty. Both sides are in the wrong. Both are playing at bluff and wanting to bounce the other. The shearers are quite right in combining against over low wages, for their occupation is an arduous and responsible one. On the other haud they ought to recognise that prices are very different to what they were in the flush times. All wages have come down and so must theirs. As for the Amuri ffockowners, they are about as likely to import Kaffir shearers from South Africa as to get 3s a pound for their wool at the next sales.

The Cape sheep are a very different class of animals to the Canterbury merino, and the Kaffir, though he may work cheap, is a thriftless, drunken lazy fellow ■ whom only Boers with a big stock-whip well laid on can keep in order. Besides which consideration it is highly questionable whether he could stand the change of climate, and finally, the Government would certainly and very properly asked to stick on a heavy poll tax. The Chinese are bad enough, but a greasy, lazy, half-naked rapscallion like a Kaffir—we could never stand him at all.

Both sides to the sheepfarmers v. shearers squabble better make terms and work cordially together, the men being reasonable in their demands and the masters providing better food and accommodation and not grinding the men down.