Late Shearing Notes.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 6, 20 February 1911, Page 2

Late Shearing Notes.

Mr. J. Townsend. Secretary for Marlborough, writes : —

The shearing season has now drawn to a close, and by the time this is in print, with the exception of a few stragglers at the back-country stations, it will be ended. Taking the whole season, we have had nothing to complain of, most of the sheds paying up with, of course, the usual exception—Hillstone station. This shed has always been a blank, and still remains so. There is a chance of machines being installed in this shed next season, and with them strange faces, and, consequently, friends to the Union, and also, what has tiever been known at Hillstone — a shed representative. There was no trouble of any kind during the general shearing season, all sheds paying the pound. The only strike during the year was at Marshlands, on the 31st January, where some of the local lads turned up to shear 1800 lambs. It being reported the pay was only 18s. 6d., the owner was interviewed by one of the shearers. The offer was 18s. 6d. all right, and, needless to say, was promptly refused. The shearers rolled iip and left when they could not get the pound. There has been a lot of lamb shearing here this year, and the pound was paid every time. Marshlands advertised in the local paper for four shearers, 1800 lambs, at award rates, and although the first men left and other shearers tried to get the pound, five '' masters' pets" were found to go on at 18s 6d, three white men and two Maoris (there are six stands in the shed), and two of these wasters are financial members. One of them, a noted individual, who is always prepared to accept whatever "master ,, offers, had only a few days before cut out of a run from which he shore nearly 7000 sheep. This is the class of men who always keep the worker down. Our fight "is not against the capitalist, but against the labourer who assists capital to beat labour every time.

At the annual meeting, on February 4th, the following officers were declared elected:—President, Mr. W. McLennan (unopposed); Vice-President, Mr. A. Dalziel (unopposed) ; Delegate to Conference, Mr. J. Townsend (unopposed); Secretary, J. Townsend.

It was decided to leave the election of committee,, trustees, auditors, etc., till next meeting, February 25th. The result of the Fjxecutive ballots were : —President, A. J. King. Location head office, Wellington. Increased price of tickets : Majority against, 46. Joining New Zealand Federation of Labour : Large majority for this.

11l conclusion., I wish to thank all shed reps, and others for their assistance this season. Xn thanking the shed reps. I may name those who did good work for the cause : W. McLennan, Marshlands and Wharanui; Oliver Dalziel, Leefiold and Flaxbourne; J. liodda, Lansdowiie and Birch Hill; C. Fantham, Benhopia ; J. Mcc, Meadowbank, Avondale and Upeott; N. Towart, Molesworth ;J. Hammond, Blairick ; J. Peter, Tyntersfield : S Reid, Duno;ree and NVbrooke ; J. McKinley, Weld's Hill.

Mr. A. McLeod, President of Wellington branch, sends in the following:— The Masterton. Executive of the Shearers' Union and Woolshed Employees' Union has sent the following address to the friends and relatives of the late Mr. and Mis. Paku :—"We desire, on behalf of the members of this Union, to convey to the friends and relatives and the Maori race our deepest sympathy and sincere regret in the time of their bereavement and loss in the death of the late Mr and Mrs Rei Paku. The late Mr Rei Paku was one of our prominent members, and will be sadly missed from our ranks, as in him we fully recognised a true and staunch Unionist, and one who was ever desirous of uplifting the conditions of the workers of this Dominion. The good work done by Mr. Hoi Paku will always be fresh in the memory of our Union. We fully recognise the Maoris as a noble race of people, and it is the. earnest desire of the pakeha portion of our membership that the chain of friendship and brotherly and sisterly devotion should be linked up, with the object of becoming one in the best interests of our cause. We remain, yours in deepest sympathy."—Signed by eleven members of the Executive. Mr. It. Louttit reports as follows :-— Grasmere cut out Ist February, after a long run through wet weather, being six weeks and three days for 12,000 sheep for six men. Unfortunately, it was reported that Grasmere was a 19s. 6d. shed, and although that was the starting price, Mr. Rutherford willingly paid the pound at the cut out. During shearing a man came along to fill a stand, and swung his own machine (a Cooper, with a wide cut comb,). When we objected he knocked off, but when spoken to by the rep. he said he would not join the Union on account of not being allowed to use his own machine, and he would not shear with any other than a wide cut machine, so he was promptly put in the creek, just to teach him that he cannot do a thing like that amongst Union men.