SECRETARY'S NOTE-BOOK.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 2, 8 December 1911, Page 14

SECRETARY'S NOTE-BOOK.

sty JV2. LARAGY.

I left Christchurch on Tuesday, Notember 14, .and reached Blenheim on the ISfch (show night). I found a number of shearers iv town, but all with whom I came in contact were members of the Association and, hi fact, voluntary organisers. At Hii'iersden I fff-Tritl shearing in progress and a good lot of lads engaged, no shirkers, and all shearers and shed hands present enrolled. As I held my meeting oii"a Sunday night a couple of local men were absent, but their mates answered for them, and I left tickets, ballot papers, etc., with the representative to fix up any whom I had missed. Rep., R. Ireland. ~ At Landsdowne I found the representative (C. Hass) had enrolled the shearers to a- man, but the shed, hands were not-of the right sort. They are, however, young, and I trust the time is close at hand when will realise the benefits to be derived- through unionism. At Bankhouse I found a good crowd with the exception of three. Like aU backsliders, the three referred to had no argument, but simply remained wooden and grinned, one of them asserting that he could get a. price without being in the union. lam hoping that Mr. Forbes, the representative, will succeed in getting the three of them to join our ranks, as he is a good battler, and has a few good men. with him at Bankhouse. At Delta the chaps were solid, and the President of the Marlborough Union being on the board, all who work in the shed will record their names this season. The next shed I visited was.Richmond Brook, where I struck a crowd of the stone-age class—not a unionist among them, which, I might state, was a revelation to' mc, as I did not think them was a shed of eight hands in New Zealand filled by non-unionists. The boss here also refused mc the right to address his men in the hut, but gave mc permission: to have a meal. The 'shearers also invited mc to dine with them, but, needless to say, I refused the invitation after hearing the views expressed regarding unionism, etc. I trust the time is near when we will refuse to make engagements where non-unionists are employed. I feel confident that the time draws near when the .shearers will be in a position to enforce their own preference. Don't forget that in the technical classes the wool kings are'playing a cunning card, though I am pleased to say that most of the students on coming out of the classes are joining the union. At Kekerangu I met a fine crowd of chaps, well up in all matters coimerning the Association, and they required no pressing to take tickets, etc. The musterers on this place are all the right sort, and in a short time these workers will either be a part of the Association or have a union of their own-, and in the format-ion of same I have promised, to give every possible assistance. The accommodation on this place requires the attention of an inspector, as it is a standing disgrace to Marlborough. By the time this appears in -print I trust that it will be looked into by the health officer, whose report I anxiously await. I enjoyed an hour with the chaps at Kekerangu, and I will answer for their doino- all in their power to forward the Interests of the Association. P. J. Green, rep., can be depended upon to put in good work. . < At Woodbank ,the shearers all took tickets, and I trust that in future they will take a live interest in the movement. ■ One of the great difficulties in the path of the country workers is the fact that they lack concentration, and knowing this, they must surely see the great necessity of a sound labor journal. Before crossing the Clarence river and bidding adieu to Marlborough, I desire to thank members and others for he kind treatment I received while with them. Mr. McLennan, President of the Union, was kind enough to supply mc with a good horse while about Blenheim, which saved mc some stiff pedaling against head winds on a push bike. I. reached Kaikoura after a 65-mile bike ride late on Wednesday night, and caught the Cygnet for Lyttelton, on Thursday, reaching that port in time to catch the midnight train for Christchurch. I might state that there were a number of°sheds I did not visit, but in all of these there were prominent members of the Association, and it was unnecessary for mc to go there, as such men can' be depended upon to do all possible in the interest of the Union. I have unearthed five more of the woolfallers who see their way clear to engage at 19s 6d. All are small farmers and gun shearers. These gentlemen's names will appear later, on list to be printed. I find that some sheepowners are paying less than the rate fixed in the award for shed hands, and I am taking steps to collect the back pay to. which these boys are entitled. This award should have been in existence in Canterbury and Otago months ago, but steps were not taken by the union officials to have the award made in Wellington enforced in Canterbury and Otaao districts.

Morally the sheeppwners in the sard districts were bound by the terms bf the award as an agreement was made .between |the parties that an award 'made in one of the, industrial districts should be accepted by the employers and workers in other industrial districts. The shed hands' award came into i force in Canterbury on October 20. Splendid reports are to 'hand from the Wellington secretary (Mr. Langston), and a large increase in the membership is expected this season. At Teyiotdale station, a shearer accidentally cut a sheep, reported same to shed manager, and the sheep was counted out in the usual manner. Subsequently it died, and tlie manager stopped 10s as compensation from the shearer referred to! This is like,going , back to the good old raddling days, but T think that wool king will see the good sense of disgorging the 10s. quietly, or he will be made to do so, as this sort of thing cannot be tolerated nowadays. However, we will await further developments.