THE SHEARERS’ DISPUTE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9066, 5 February 1908, Page 8

THE SHEARERS’ DISPUTE.

The delegates appointed by the Farmers’ Union and other sheep owners, and those representing the Shearers Union met at Palmerston North yesterday, in pursuance of the arrangement made before the Conciliation Board, with a view to settling the shearers’ dispute. The delegates present were ; Sheep owners; J. O. Cooper, Pahiatna; W. F. Jacob, Kiwitea; S. B, Wright, Hawke’s Bay; Ewen Campbell, Wanganui; H. A. Nevins, Te Nui; J. W. Marshall, Marton; H. M. Saunders, Takapau; E. H. Orabb, Kimbolton. (Mr J. Clare, of Hawke’s Bay, was unable to attend. ) „ „ , . Shearers: James Russell (president) Ohingaiti; Thomas Hall, Hunterville ; Edward McCormick, Wanganui; Sam Young, Lower Rangitikei; 'W, L. Garrick, Masterton; John Baker, Puketapu, H.B. ; Bert. Fell, Martinborough; A. O. Abbott, Featherstou; John Timmins, Maugamahu; E. W. Abbott (secretary), Hunterville.. It was agreed to appoint no chairman but to make it a “round talk’’ conference with free discussion. The conference met at noon, adjourned from 1 to 2 p.m., and concluded its labours at 4.25 p.m. in time to enable delegates to catch trains. It was decided to furnish no information to the press, and that the proceedings or conclusions should on no account be divulged until after the Shearers’ Union Executive had met at Hunterville on Saturday evening next, when the compromises made by the shearers’ delegates will come up for confirmation, or otherwise. There was, however, a majority of the executive at this conference. Similarly absent members of the Sheep Owners’ Defence Sub-committee and Farmers’ Union Provincial Executive are to be supplied with the results of the deliberations and asked to express their views, but again there is practical certainty of acceptance. There was considerable discussion over several of the clauses, but especially the ‘ ‘ vital’ ’ clauses of shearing rate and preference to members of the Shearers 3 Union. Recognising the crucial character of the preference clause (IS) it was taken early. It had been understood throughout that this clause could not be accepted by the farmers, and after a keen effort the shearers agreed to its being struck out, retaining clauses 19 and 20, which provide that their shall be no discrimination against unionists. Another clause much objected to, clause 21, providing that a learner be allowed to every 10 men, was altered, so as to provide that there should be no limitation of learners. The third important clause was No. 3, proposing that the price for hand and machine shearing be alike £1 per 100. After keen discussion, during which the sheep farmers wished to give to men who had introduced machines the advantages accruing from them, and the small farmer question was raised only to have its futility pointed out, it was fully agreed that the standard price for shearing by machine be 17s 6d with rations, and by hand £1 per hundred. This disposed of the three most contentious clauses. The other clauses became matters of mutual arrangement. A number of clauses, such as those relating to the regulation of the sheds, etc., were agreed to as they stand. In others minor amendments were made, and it was finally arranged that the agreement thus come to should remain in force for two years. In clause 2, for instance, that detailing the hours of shearing, the hours specified were struck out, and generally the remaining clauses were modified to make a better working arrangement. Some of the delegates expressed the view that the clauses were not suited to other than Australian conditions, and the difference in shearing between Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay—these were forcibly pointed out. “The number of sheds on this side having more than five shearers could be counted-on the fingers,” said one farmers’ delegate. Hawke’s Bay delegates, apropos of clause . 10, which provides, that no sh earer enter a catching pen after the bell rings” said they had never in all their experience heard a bell though he admitted that he once heard a man whistle. There were some amusing interchanges on the “language” question, one wellknown Palmerstonian opining that a shearer smarting under a kick by a struggling sheep might be expected to be ornate, though the shearers’ delegates agreed in deprecating it and the enforcement of good conduct. On the wet sheep question, the shearers’ secretary was eloquent, quoting numerous cases, himself included, of men afflicted with rheumatics as a consequence of shearing them. The discussions, while animated, were good humored throughout and thoroughly practical.