SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9040, 25 January 1908, Page 5

SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

A LOCAL CONFERENCE. A coi ference was held in the Masterton A. and P. rooms, last evening; between representatives of the Shearers' Union and local woolgrowers in connection with the shearers' dispute. Mr W. Perry, sheep farmer, presided, and there were five other wool-growers and eight shearers present, including Mr E. W. Abbott, secretary of the' Shearers' Union. The conference was held in committee, and the claims of the shearers were discussed clause by clause. Slight modifications were agreed to in several clauses, and there were only three items that were at all debateable.. i The recommendations carried at the meeting will be placed before the general conference of shearers and farmers to be held at Palmerstor. North on 31st inst., when it is anticipated that an amicable settlement will be arrived at. If such is the case an award will be framed by the Arbitration Court on the basis of the agreement come to. The general opinion seems to be .that the clause of the claim 3 that will be most keenly debated at the general conference is thet relating to preference to unionists. Mr W. L. Carrick has been appointed to represent the shearers in the Masterton district at the Palmerston North conference.