RATES TOO HIGH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 208, 18 September 1937, Page 5

RATES TOO HIGH

Our Own Correepondent.)

Poverty Bay Discussion

(From

GISBORNE, This Day. The view that the present shearing rates of pay were excessive, was expressed at a meeting of tho Poverty Bay provincial executivo of the Farmers' Union yesterday. "A definite principlo was lai'd down some years ago that tho rates for shearing be fixed on a sliding scale related to the index figuro of wool preparod by the Government Statistician, and if any alteration is to bo made representations would have to be made to have this principle altered entirely before any alteration in connee* tion with the rates could bo made," stated a letter from the N.Z. Farmers' Union. The Dominion secretary said he woqjd like a definite statement from the Poverty Bay executive whether it considered the sliding scale system should be kept witk a minimum of 20/- and the maximum of 30/-Nor whether the sliding scale system should bo thrown out altogether. In a further letter it was pointed out that the index number for wool last year was taken as equal to 1000, and for the season ended June 30, the index number was found to be 1700. The rate for last year was then multiplied by 1700 over 1000. This method of fixing wijges for shearers was deeided upon about.12 years ago. It would be realised that the index* figure was really a fluctuating one, based on the Government Statistician 's actual index figure for the price of wool. Reporting on the Dominion executive meeting, the president, Mr J. H. Benson, said it was considered that the present rates were beyond all reasoti, and that before the present agreement ended, some action would bo taken by tho Farmers' Union,- ovcxi to getting the Act amended, to pefmit all concefncd to give evidence before tlie next aw&rd wtis hiado It was fclt that tlie prosident of tlie Employers' Federation should have been notified of tlie meeting, and was quite entitled to be present and to be heard. /