Shearing Rates

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 211, 22 September 1937, Page 7

Shearing Rates

WOOL-GROWER.

Sir, — There would appear to be a Wide difference of Opinion betweeh .sheepfarmers and shearing contractorS as to What should be the contract price for shearing this season. Many considefations enter into this question, but tbe two main factors are: iFirst, the avejpge daily output of the shearing gang in any particular shed; and, second, the aniount of time normally lost there through wet weather. Any farmer Shouid know tho average . daily and weekly tallieS in his owm shed— ^calefliated over a period of years. He shOuld take the trouble to put himkelf in the plaOe of the contfactor, wOrk out for himself the cost pef huhdred of his own shearing, alloW & xeasbiiable margiu of profit for the contraefor, and So Urrivg at a contract priea for his own particular. coixditions. If he will do this, he will fihd that the pfice of £3 per hundred, reported in your paper of Monday, Beptember 20, as having been suggested by certain faTmefs, is just as unreasohdble as the £3 18/- per hundred reported in last Satufday's issue as having befen suggested by the contfactors. The Whole business hinges upon the outptit horirially to be expected. It can easily be shown that in the case of lower-country sheds— espCcially some of the l&fger ones— Where the sheep at© good cutting and the weather is Teliable, there would this season be a' domfortable margiu of pfofit for the efficient contractor at 68/- or 69/- per 100; While in much of the higlier country, where the sheep are likely to be harder and the weather uncertaiU, 72/- per 100 would not be unredsonable. — TOufS. etc..

Napier, September 20, 1937.