SHEARING PROBLEM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 183, 20 August 1937, Page 7

SHEARING PROBLEM

hfo Learners Being Taught A serious situation is likely to arise for' pastoralists in the near future as no learners are being taught shearing in Hawke's Bay sheds. Mr H. M. Christie, M.P., emphasised this fact during an address at Havelock North. He had been -toki, he said, that nobody was learning the shearing trade in Hawke's Bay. He had checked tlie statement by. visiting 29 sheariug sheds and in not one instance had lle fouud that any learners were engaged. "In must big sheds shearing is done by contract, and shearing eontractors will not have loarucfs in their gangs. It cuts down their profits. O11 "small stands the position is also diifechJfc, because farmers eannob alford to bave wo.rk done by learners. The expenso of employing theui is too lieuvy in comparison with the work done. » "We find i'armers who want boys to go out and live in whares, as was doue 30 years ago," said Mr Christie in auother parb of his address, when relemiig to tlie shortage of farin Jabourers. "Their own sons will not do it. \Ve wailt to increase the wages for iarin liands, but we do not wanfc to make it difficult for the farmer. It is only tbe mean employers who are eomplainingi ahout the standard of wages set. Many farmers have been , payiug much righer ratos to their ; employeesi" '