Shearers' Wages

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 8, 2 October 1937, Page 6

Shearers' Wages

BOB

TUTAKL

: Sir, — Regarding the shearing eontract -rate of £3 18/-.per 100 we have had many arguments "froni both. sides in regard to the rates for contract shearing this year. To substantiate . our arguments I will Submit figures to show where .we are. For instance, take a .gkng of . four shearers, shedhands and the cook (total number, 12). I am basing; my argument 'in , support ' of tlie claini nitule by Ihe Hawke's Bay coutractors at a meeting held in Hastings recently; that is, for £3 18/- per 100. 1 will begin with tlie shearers, whose average for the season would be 150 sheep a. man per day. Therefore the total output a day for four shearers would be 600 sheep at £3 18/- per 100,' yielding £23 8/-. Against this tjiere would- be ihe following expenses:

; This doos not, iiH-lude tlie cost of the food the coutractor has to supply. Yhea. this fact. is takou into accomit surely ihe sk.ee puwners eimnot elaim tliat the price is inireasoiiable. othovwi,se the sheepownei-s and tho • 'contract - ors ai'e! exploit'iug the shearers and shedhands- as far as suflicieut and propei\ fo.od is coneerned. The shearers and shedhands are equally provided by the awa-rd, and in each instance are entitled to 4/- a day per man. They worlc from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., during which time they have three meals and three -light lunches. Therefore 12 men

at 4/- » man per day would be £2 8/»i bringing the total expendit'ure , for the day up to £21 18/9, against the re» ceipt for the day of £23 8/-, giving the contractor a profit of £1 9/3. Then there are the contractor 's liar bilities. — He has to • find a completq gang to the satisfaetiqn of the em« ployer; has to see that these men do their work in a proper manner that satisfies the employer; has to see that his men behave themselves, and that no liquor is brought to the place. For a full week's work, although shearing stops at 4 p.m, on Friday, night, with no shearing on Haturday, the contractor has to f eed his men on Saturday and Sunday at the rate of £2 8/- a day. Therefore, whatever profits he has made during the week will be absorbed almost eompletely. "Weather does not come into .the ar* gument. What we want is to build np a minimum contract rate, . at whatever rate is agreed upon by the sheepowne* and the contractors. . ' I would like to see the Sheepowners Association '* figures. Would the sheepowners agreo to have a conferenee with the contrae* tors? It is not too late yet. — I am., etc.,

2/10/37.

: : £ s. d. 4 Blicarcrs 0600 sheep at • 34/- a J00) ....... .i, . 10 4 0 4 skedhands at 2/7 an hour for 9 lirs. a day each . . 4 13 0 2 pressers at 2/9 an hour for 9 hrs. a day each . . 2 9 6 1 sheepo at 2/7 an hour for 9 hrs. a day 1 3 3 1 cook at £11/- a day ... 11 0 Total £19 30 9

EXPENDITURE.