TREATMENT OF SHED-HANDS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 7, 20 March 1911, Page 19

TREATMENT OF SHED-HANDS.

Dear "Wobkee," —While at Molesworth, in the Maryborough district, during the shearing just over, some funny things occurred with regard to the treatment of the shed-hands. Why shouldn't the "picker up" get as much, as the wool-roller ? Surely running up and down the board all day is as hard work as standing at a wool table. In Australia the wages are identical over a certain age. There was a, constant stream of shed-hands going to and fro all the time. I suppose this was due to the attempt to bring their grievance before the Arbitration Court .being unsuccessful so far. There was no trouble between the shearers and the boss, and this difference in the shed-hands' wages was the principal bone of contention. When this shed was nearly cut out, the manager sent to Christchurch for five or six men, and only got one—a, good job, too. His idea was to give some on hand the usual week's notice, but he fell in. There were two as good pickers-up as ever went into a wool shed sacked ignominiously because one was blamed for being a ring-leader when it was discussed among themselves re seeing the boss about more wages. This lad simply said, "I'll do whatever you coves do ,, when he was asked if he would be with them. He had no more to do with getting up the affair than a, post. Anyhow, when he got the sack his mate went with him.. They only went eight miles towards Blenheim in a track amongst pimples (mountains) and river-crossings, when they got another shed at better wages and better conditions. The way the manager of this station used to speak to his weekly men was enough in itself to cause friction. The tucker was good and plenty of it, and everything ought to have gone along swimmingly, but it did not.—l am, etc., "SHELLBACK,"