SHEARERS' SECTION

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 55, 29 March 1912, Page 12

SHEARERS' SECTION

SECRETARY'S NOTE-BOOK.

By M. LARACY.

A Retrospect— The Auckland Trouble Easter Conference. Last night I lay awake thinking of the wondrous change that has been effected in the conditions, rates of pay, and, above all, in the accommodation during the last 20 years. I was forced to admit that the lot of the shearer to-day is far different to what it was when I first launched out with a packhorse in tow, proud to think that 1 was at last a full-blown shearer. « • • Raddle in those days was in great demand, and w.hon the boss of the board wae in a bad humor or perchance did not like the color of the shearer's hair he used tho raddle on the sheep shorn by tho shearer and the raddled sheep were counted out and the sheaxer not paid for them. This is of tho past. Tho union killed it. In 1888 an agreement was signed at the Manus shod in N.S.W., whereunder a man who accidentally injured a sheep could be. made to pay' as much as £5 for same. This was at tdie Manna, owned by JlcJlickLng. * * * Last yea.r we unearthed a McMicking in Maoriland, when the "sporting magnate" at Toviotdale came to light with, a "try on" to charge a _ shearer 10s. for a sheep accidentally injured by him. The union again prevented the shearer being robbed.

It might be of interest to many to learn that in the 80's there, wore in the Shearers' Union in New Zealand 2300 members aaid in 1911 we had not doubled our membership. Those of us who fought in the great bush, battle of '94 know that after putting up a glorious fight wo returned in '95 and accepted that which, we so strenuously fought against in '94—but what an education that fight was to many of us. We learned that vested interests were nos so much concerned about the extra few shillings in question, but Ijho fact of the workers awakenu>o , . -wad realising their great strength.

Tho workers are gradually awakening, however, and shearers to-day are not concentrating their efforts solely on £1 per hundred, improving tho accommodation, work ceasing at 12 on Saturday, etc. Our work to-day is to link-up the various unions industrially, and to assist in the formation of one grand political organisation comprised of workers with brawn and brain, who are prepared to como out and openly fight Labor's battle. ■ • « There is but one Labor cause, and every worker is called upon to fight in it and for it. ■* * * We oro opposed to strikes at all times, and more than all a strike which is precipitated as a rule by the employers at an opportune time. Today wo know that in New Zealand the one time when a strike could be fought effectively would be, say, in December and the following two or three months. At that particular time, of tho year the farmers vrould ha,ve very little time to trouble about strike-breaking, etc., n* they would have their hands full otherwise « # * On. present appearances, it would seem that tho fanners need not fear a strike of any magnitude among the farm laborers of this country, but a general strike would, of course, affect them, and therefore they aro going to organise as strike-breakers against the unionists of Auckland. These far« mors. I tnk© it, arc mostly workers who have Government Mocks," which the ill-paid workers in Auckland havo done their share in making it possible for them to secure.

In tho. first place, I sincerely trust til at a strike, can bo avoided in Auckland, and in the second place, if it should come, I trust tihat it will not be at a time when the "backbone" have tiiiio to act as strike-breakers, and my one prayer is that tho workers will win. * « «

At tho present time- in Maoriland all tlvuso who are ant-agonistic to 11)0Labor movement aro much concerned about strikes and how they will affect tho workers. Personally, Ido not fear a strike, and only at the ballot box will- thero be one, providing tho secretaries of tho Employers' Associations and others of that ilk do not precipitate ik

A.train I say, "Workers, watch Wellington at Easter time," and if tho men who represent you are out for solidarity and one organisation for tho whole, it* can be brought, about. Time is precious, and we cannot afford to waste it as wo have been doing in the past.

A case of groat interest TO snoarers w.ns heard in Eangiora on Tuesday, ATarclj 19, when the Labor Department proceeded against Mr. Ensor, of White Hook station, who, by the way, has political aspirations and is a disciple of Massoy. The charge was that or brcaoh of award for dismissing six shearers for refusing to shear sheep which they had reasonable grounds for considering to be wet. The case occupied the court for about four hours, and some 1-3 witnesses were called. After hearing evidence, Mr. Bailey, S.M., reserved judgment, which will be anxiously awaited by shearers throughout Australasia. Inspector Hood conducted the case for tho Department, and Mr. A. D. Adan<l defended.

Thus a London paper: "The Blue Bird" is better, judged as a fairy play, than Barrio's "Peter Pan." Evon the tiniest toddler can revel with undiluted flight in all the first act, when the Things and Animals take human form, the Houts dance and Fire and Water .strive for mastery; and in the simple beauty of the Kingdom of the Future, on whose threshold stands Sentinel Time, telling off the children whose turn it is to be born. Also, even the youngest can appreciate the final leeson of the play, that in seeking the happiness of others wo find the truest happiness for ourselves.