Shearers' Siftings

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 29, 22 September 1911, Page 7

Shearers' Siftings

By M. LARACY. COT IT! Sirio has got his title, He scored it years ago, iWUite.ii Scddon 'wouldn't take it They passed it on to Joe. 'Joo swore from that time onward Fealty to the Hempire! !Ajid vowed that, 'mong her titled sons, He yet would roost up higher. For Digger Dickie's leavings .Were not enough for Joo; r And so he crossed the water To his old friend Iky Mo. [Who told him that he oughter Evolve a rallying cry— ff. The Motherland in Danger!" And h© wunk the other eye. 80, whatever tune the Jingoes Piped in London Town, Sirjo danced to the music, Like any circus clown. l&nd when the Jingo Fever His Cabinet' from him caught, Hβ siaid, "Let's give the Motherland 'A million pound Dreadnought!" Now Sirjo's got his title, With something written "plus ,, ; iSPhe Cold Land's got the Dreadnought, And Iky Mo's got us! ■■■• * * I would like to remind members of She Shearers' Association that nominations for the positions of president, vice-president and secretary close on 80h inst. This also applies to union secretaries and organisers for 1912-13, if any are engaged. It behoves any member of the organisation who is not satisfied with the present management to assist in displacing same —and now is the time to do it. * * * Our organisation will some day be In New Zealand what the A.W.U. is in Australia, and will be built up by the whole of the country workers of this country. In the past the country workers have been neglected, and teavily handicapped owing to having mo organisation. * * * * F A well-attended meeting of members tof the Shearers' Association was held in the Socialist Hall, Christchurch, on Saturday, September 9. The action of Ithe conference in issuing the manifesto urging shearers to refrain from making engagements at less than £1 per 100 was unanimously endorsed by the nicotic

ing. A strong committee was formed (with power to add to its number), and arrangements are to be m.ade on Saturday, September 23 (when the next meeting is to be held) to carry on organising work during the coming season. The secretary appealed to those present to send along all notes likely to interest readers of "The Maoriland Worker," and by this means make the paper of interest to the workers gener- ■ ally. If all secretaries of unions and others who are capable of doing good work in this direction would make an effort to supply short notes,, etc., "The Maoriland Worker" would soon be looked for anxiously by all workers. In three weeks shearing will be upon us, and it should be the duty of «vea-y worker in the industry to see that his co-workers -ar-e alive to their own interests, and take a ticket in the Shearers' Union, which has done so much to improve conditions and increase the rates of pay. * # * Mr. Waddell, secretary of the Canterbury Union, is holding meetings in various places in his district, and Saturday week held a good meeting at Temuka and on the 16th was at Waimate. In both places mentioned the Shearers' Nnion is on a sound footing. * * * *. I know of no employers who are expecting their sheep to be shorn.for the minimum rate, and look forward to the coming shearng being one of the most satisfactory we have had. ere From every hand comes th© cry "federate, unite," etc., ajid to those who watch the Labour movement closely it is apparent that the workers are fast awakening.

Disguise thyself as them wilt, still, Slavery, thou art a bitter draught; and though thousands in all ages have been made to drink of thee, thou art no less bitter on that account. It is thou. Liberty, thrioe sweet and gracious goddess, whom in public or in private worship, whose taste is grateful and ever will be so, till Nature heirself shall change: no tint of words can spot thy snowy mantle, or chymic power turn thy sceptre into iron. With thee to smile upon him as he eats his crust, the swain is happier than his monarch, from whose court thou art exiled. Gracious heaven! grant mc. but health, thou great bestower of it, and give mc but this fair goddess as my companion, and shower down thy mitres, if it seem good unto thy divine providence, upon those heads which acre aching for them. —Sterne.