SHEARERS' SECTION

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 31, 6 October 1911, Page 17

SHEARERS' SECTION

SEGBETABY'S NOTE-BOOK.

By rvl■ LARACY.

I haA'o received numerous letters from our brother unionists in Australia, and I am confident that none of these correspondents will make an engagement this season at less than £1 per hundred; nor do they know of any who are crossing the pond with the intention of doing so.

The shearers throughout Maoriland are pledged to refuse to accept engagements at the minimum rate of 19s 6d, and none but the contrary employer will offer less than £I—so1 —so there will be a pleasant shearing this season, no trouble being expected. The shed hands Avill appreciate the improvement in their conditions, as the aAvard made in the Wellington district _ has been agreed to between the Association and the SheepoAvners' Federation for the AA r hole of the Dominion. No shed hand Avill be expected to grub gorse, hoe turnips, weed the garden or do other odd jobs while the shearers arc Avaiting for the sheep to dry; at the same time, they are receiving better pay than in the past, Avhen they were at the beck and call of every jackeroo on the station to do all sorts of odd jobs. * * # What every shearer and shed hand in N.Z. should consider is that the Association has improved the conditions of the Avorkers in the industry, and they are in duty bound to not only support it but to see that their mates do likeAAise. ii * * Members of the Association must realise that it is their duty to see that their felloAv-workers are members of the Union and not receiving benefits which they are too mean to contribute their share to pay for gaining. * * * Our comrades in Australia are out to fight the contract system of shearing, and if they succeed in abolishing same they Avill ' have accomplished something of Avhich they may feel proud, and which will go to proA r e that shearers have realised that contract shearing creates " a. monopoly in the shearing industry and to the shearers as a body is a curse.

In contract sheds only fast men arc welcomed by the "boss.'" Some men who are what-'we''term "guns," are kept going all the season, and in many cases good honest shearers are cast off to make room for these " guns." Of course, the "gun" shearer who comes along does not know that this has happened, as the "gun" shearers are as a rule good unionists and Avould not demean themselves by "Avaiting for a death." At tho same time, the , "boss" knows when the gun is cutting out, perhaps 200 miles away, and he knows from the other "boss" "which way the "gun" is going, and everything is in readiness when he arrives at the shed. Wo in N.Z. are not yet cursed to any great extent with this pernicious system, but it is coming, and if it was not that the sheds are so small it would be common in N.Z. to-day.

I do not think that many of the boys across the water approve of contract shearing, but the system has taken root and will be hard to abolish. * * *

Wo find the sheepowners here out to establish, technical classes, .and it behoves every member of the Association to do his utmost to instil the spirit of unionism into the students who come from the college.

I predict that the time is not far distant Avhen the employers will be out to havo a pick-and-shovel technical class if they see an opportunity of getting their A\-ork done for nothing. and a reasonable chance of manufacturing enough picfc-aud-shovel men to do the work for that which is considered a fair rate of pay by the said employers.

The Shearers' Association was requested to countenance the establishment of these classes, but has refuses to do so, and some lively developments; are expected this season.

If these classes are alloAved to gc en in the face of the award, then an aAvard is of no use, as it leaves a loophole for every mean sheepowner (and these are the men aa'c are fighting) to evade the terms of the aAvard and a shearer to accept these- terms and therefore rat on the Union.

_ Any shed can be a shearing university vind the aAvard need not be recognised if I am to recognise the position taken up by the avool kings and the backbone as correct.

Another important matter to Avhich I intend to call special attention from the shearers is the scandalous accommodation provided at many of the sheds. I will thank all Avho notify mc regarding any place where the accommodation needs attention. We havr been strong enough to place. the Accommodation Act upon the Statute Book, and it surely fo-lloAvs that avo will see that the Act is administered. OAving to the strikes in Great Britain the consignments of shears for the Association has been delayed, but is expected to arrive within a fortnight. -■» * * These shears —T.U.S. —can be forwarded to members of the Association .in any part of N.Z. for 17s 6d per pac£ket cash, also combs 2s, and cutters

4d; obtainable at Head Office, Christchurch. * * * Members are requested to foinvard names and addresses of any Avhom they knoAv avlio- Avork in our ranks and are not members of the Association, by the end of this season. ■& * * > * It is generally recognised that no individual is hardly justified in accepting the improved rates and conditions gained by tho Union if he is not Avilling to become a member of same. * * * The Wellington Shearers' Union has lost one Avhom they could ill afford to lose, in Mr. A. McLeod, their president. Mr. McLeod has gone to reside in Wanganui, and can be relied upon to do his share at all times in. any organisation in Wanganui which is out to improve the conditions of the workers.