MASTERTON REPORTS.

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

MASTERTON REPORTS.

F. Langstone, acting secretary of Masterton Shearers' Union, writes: — Shearing operations are in full swing in the Wellington Province. Although the wet weather has retarded the industry somewhat, a number of sheds have been fortunate enough to get cut out. Organiser J. Cooper is doing splendid work in the Hawke's Bay district. There he is sowing" the seed of the

'One Big Union," which we believe mxist oome into existence before the workers can proclaim their freedom. He also proposes establishing shearersV committees in each shearing centre,? which I think is a first-class move, and in which I wish him every success. Mr. J. Mcc is put organising in the Wairarapa, putting in good work, enrolling members and proclaiming the aims and objects of industrial unionism. The! union owes a very great debt \ of appreciation to the shed reps, in this district. These are the. men who, after a hard day's shearing, tell their younger comrades the great price which has been.paid in human suffering, banishment, imprisonment and starvation, as well as the vast sums of union money which have been spent to secure the few privileges which we enjoy to-day, thereby showing them the great need to join the industrial army to protect their class from falling a prey to the greed and gluttony of tlie capitalist class. • The shed reps, in the Wairarapa have rendered splendid service to the Wellington branch this year, and W-e are looking forward to a most prosperous year. Twelve names have been handed in for delegates to conference, from which number three must be eliminated ._ Truly, a healthy to see men- animated >y the desire z& reaidJer some service to their fellow men. It has been decided by this branch to ask members, when attending meetings, to show their tickets, also to invite intending members to enrol at the meetings. At most sheds the jrnen are passing resolutions demanding the abolition of private labor agents, and asking that Government offices be substituted. They contend that having to pay for jobs is totally opposed to the principle of ■democracy, also that bogus _advertisements are continually appearing in the daily papers, and when men apply, after 'beinjg put to considerable expense, they generally receive the answer "Oh, it's just been taken." Thej* contend that the Government lias special facili-, ■ties for dealing successfully, with this important problem. There is much to be said in favour of this resolution, and we would like the co-operation of all organised bodies of workers to pass similar' motions, which we could send to' the Government on a day to be appointed, as we desire that this demand be given effect to. j. A. Nicholson writes: —Te Parae shearing shed cut out to-day (November 23), after a.very broken run of four weeks. The weather up here has been )

very wet, and shearing generally has been much delayed in consequence-. I am pleased to be able to state tha* all shearers, 11 in number, are members of the Union, and therefor© renewed their annual subscription. AJI shed hands, with the exception of three, were enrolled —that is to say, out of a total of 28, there are 25 financial members of the Shearers' Associay tion. There is a report current in MasteS"ton and surrounding district that tha above-mentioned Te Parae shed was paying minimum rates —namely, 18s 6d for lambs and 19s 6d for big sheep. Now, I have not the least doubt but that this report has bean started bj\ some mean scab or scabs for purposes, of their own. Seeing that Te Parae *is one of the first sheds to start in the Wairarapa, they have made it their business to circularise this report bo that they (the scabs) would be able / to say, when they accepted minimum. rates or anything that was offered them, that they were doing what other men before them had done. Now, ro the above report, in the first place Ta Parae does not shear the lambs, and has not done so for years past, and as tor the big sheep there, was never any question about the price: £1 per 10Q was agreed on months ago, and £1 per LOO was paid to every shearer on tho board. I now conclude, hoping this will catch the eye of the skunk who circulated the report.