SHEARERS' SECTION

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 92, 20 December 1912, Page 7

SHEARERS' SECTION

SECRETARY'S NOTEBOOK.

An encouraging report is to hand from Jack Mcc, who is scouring Central Otago and meeting with success. After a few days around Oamaru and Kurow, Jack set sail for Palmerston, working all sheds en route. He complains that in some instances no ballot papers have been forwarded to ticket-holders, and that a number of members will therefore not record their votes. The ballot papers are not due until February 30, and any member not being in possession of ballot paper can obtain one or one dozen from this office. Please send along and record your vote on all issues before members.

One other sore point is that shears are not stocked in all branch offices. In reference to this, I must call attention to the fact that the cost is identical for sending shears from this office to Kurow or from Oamaru to Kurow. Furthermore,, we are right out for one union and one office in New Zealand.

Jack Cooper is working around Taihape, aud reports doing good work among the Maori gangs. Alex. MtLeod is in the Waitotara on account of some trouble with the Maori shearers.

I had the pleasure of organising on the Waitotara last season, and a finer lot of toilers I never wish to meet. 1 found the accommodation scandalous, but 1 am informed that it is different this year. 1 trust that this is correct, as it was disgraceful last season.

There is one question which must he dealt with when framing a fresh agreement, viz., dagging. During the last few days I have heen wired and rung up on the telephonu on this question. « • . • Question: "What would they do with daggy sheep?" My advice was to leave the dags on, as dagging is not shearing, and if it is, why did tlie old agreement drawn up hy practical men in Wellington district around the table fix a price of 2s. 6d. per hundred for a daggy flock. *, » » Most sheepowners dag their own sheep, but in all classes we meet the pointer, and my advice to shearers is to bung 'em down the porthole with the dags on, "but shear them well ere doing so."

It is only a few mean sheepowners who are taking advantage of the opening left by the court when framing the agreement or award, and one which 1 called attention to a* the time the award was made.

A number of sheds have started and the representatives have not reported to the office. It is essential that this should be done, and members should not look forward to an organiser calling upon them. It is, on the other hand, a compliment to them should the organiser pass by to hunt up a cocky shearer or two, knowing that in a representative shed there will surely be a unionist or two to attend to the business. It has reached mc that I passed by Nokomai shed during the time it was shearing last year. I really think that the nearest I was to Nokomai shed in shearing time was Christchurch, and during the year 1 was never within 60 miles of it. * * * Fight on, you shearers, and we will yet win out. A punch or two will hurt none of us now and again.