THE SHEARERS' TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 136, 17 September 1910, Page 5

THE SHEARERS' TROUBLE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, September 16. Mr. Laracy, general secretary of the , Shearers' Union, has telegrams from iMr. Semple, president of the Federation of Labor, and Mr. Glover, its secretary, congratulating the shearers on the stand they have taken. ~ "Your figiht is our fight," is the burden of the messages. Dunedin, Yesterday. Tha Otago shearers' dispute came before the Conciliation Council (consisting of Messrs. Triggs and Hally). Mr. Giles, the Auckland commissioner, did not appear. The case is practically the same dispute as was beard in Christchurch on behalf of the Canterbury shearers, where no agreement; was arrived at. After a private conference with the parties the Commissioners adjourned to Wellington on Wednesday next. This wa» done to enable the shearers to confer with the head of their federation. • ' "A FIGHT TO A FINISH." ■ t . " 1 .; Dunedin, Last Night. In the course of an address at a meeting of shearers to-night, Mr. Laracy said there was nothing ahead. But a solid fight to ft .finish. After referring to. cases at Masterton, Christchurch, Palmerstoii North and Dunedin, where nothing ihad been accomplished, he said the employers demanded an understanding from the Union, which he had promised to give, and which they would have abided by, but he never got a chance to sign it. The undertaking meant nothing more than was provided for in the Arbitration Court. He claimed that the Board of Enquiry should have taken evidence and made a recommendation to the court. He.wanted those present to authorise him to send a cablegram To Australianotifying Australian shearers of the position. They could get 30s per 100 just" 43 easily as 20s, and it would make very little difference to employers and to shed hands. He maintained that they were fully - entitled to the award. With reference to men in Canterbury and Otago who, httd engaged stands without knowing the price they would get, he said there was no agreement and the men could go away. He did not think the employers objected to 20s, but „he asserted that they were out to beat the shearers' organisation. The Canterbury men were as solid as could be, and if they in Otago were as solid, he said, let them go out and raise the price to 22s 6d per 100. If there was a struggle, it would be forced on, them by the wool kings. He did not think that ten per cent, of the Australians who came over in past years would come this year. He asked them if they got 20s not to go out and exploit the small man and try to make him pay 25s because shearers were scarce. It was decided to form a branch in Dunedin. A motion was passed supporting the action of the executive in regard to the attitude taken up with reference to the dispute.