Shearing Contract Rates

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 1, 24 September 1937, Page 6

Shearing Contract Rates

Sir, — In your issue of September 18^ in connection with shearers' wages and, the rate agreed on by conjtractors for the coming season, I am credited with making the following . remarks ■ which are contrary to facts; "Mr Tutaki also took strong exception to the remarks of Mr C. R. Edgecombe, chairman of the Hawke 's Bay Provincial Distriet of the Farmers' Uuijn, who, he said, had told a meeting at Waipukurau that' the preeent rate of shearing (£1 14/- a hundred sheep) enabled shearers to earn £25 a week. Such a remark was exaggerated and mislehding." , Mr Editor, I did not.make the state? ment with which Mr Tutaki eredits me; and I would suggest that he make sure of his facts before rushing them into print. I have been associated with shearing and shearers over many years and know that he would be indeed a • superman who could earn £25 per - week^_ . What I did say, and what I repeat, was that I consider 34/- pe'r hundred too high a rate, the remuneration being far in excess of that in any. other industry. " ' ./ As far as the suggested contract rate of £3 18/- per hundred is concerned, I gave up the idea of contract shearing some years ago; T couldn't afford-it. Mr Tutald goes on to say that in 1932 no-one had sqnealed when the shearers were getting 'only 18/6. It was then difficult to get a minimum price fixed, he adds. Mr Editor, very few of our farmers at that time knew where they were, in a financial sense, and even the 18/6 was more than many could alford to pay. They could only meet this cost through a postponement of most of their other liabilities. As a farmer in an exporting country of primary produce, I realise that the onus is on the land, but we mnst all be fair-minded and reasonable and realise ■ that the farmer has many calls and ' admit that it is impossible for him to carry on if he is overburdened.— • Yours, etc., C. K. EDGECOMBE. Hatuma. Sept. 23, 1937,