SHEARERS’ AWARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 897, 27 September 1910, Page 2

SHEARERS’ AWARD.

The industrial trouble concerning the shearers in the Wellington district, affecting the rates of pay and general conditions, was dealt with in the Arbitration Court, Wellington, last Saturday. Practically the only question in this dispute was as to the rates of pay. These have been fixed by the Court, and a clause has also been inserted for the purpose of making it penal for the Union or any member to attempt to prevent workers from accepting work at the rates fixed by the award. “No worker,” says a memorandum attached to the award, “ is bound to work at these rates, and he is at liberty to stipulate for a higher rate. If, however, workers acting in combination, refuse to work with the view of obtaining a higher rate, that will constitute the offence of taking part in a strike. Under the clause now embodied in the award the Union or any member thereof acting in the way prohibited will be guilty of a breach of award, and will be liable to a penalty in respect thereof, in addition to any penalty that may be incurred under section no of the Act.” The rates of pay in Canterbury were adopted for the Wellliugtou district. They are: — Shearing hand, 20s and rations. Shearing by machine, 19s 6d per too, and rations. Shearing lambs, 18s 6d per 100, and rations. In cases where the shearers find their own rations, the rates to be increased by 3s per 100, The rate for shearing stud sheep to be agreed to by the employer and employee ; hogget rams, rate and a half; other rams, double ordinary rates.