South Canterbury Shearers’ Union.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 191, 20 August 1901, Page 3

South Canterbury Shearers’ Union.

The delegates from the above union held a meeting in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday last, there being only a moderate attendance of shearers.

Mr Geo. Pearce, president of the Waimaie Workers’ Union, was voted io the chair* and he called on Mr Anderson to address the meeting. Mr Anderson said their object that evening was to enrol members. The shearers' union was a duly registered body, and shearers throughout the district of Canterbury would be acting in their own interests were they to enrol in the •union* He would be pleased to answer any questions. Mr O’Connor next addressed the meeting. He declared that they wanted a shearers’ union in its entirety, and not one mixed lip With general workers. • The latter could form a union for themselves.

Mr Boceham, secretary of the Waimate Workers' Union, said before any one decided to enrol in the ehearers’ union he considered it his duty to inform the meeting that, there was already a union of agricultural and pastoral workers in Waimate, duly registered under the ; Act of 1894. He went on to say that in the face of Clause 28, Subsection 2, of the Act of 1200. he had his doubts whether the shearers coaid.register under that Ant* He would not say the shearers ere not registered, but if they were, this clause must have been overlooked by the registrar. He would like to ask the delegates, before he sat down, what the shearers' union proposed to do in the event of a rouseabottts’ Strike ? The delegates must admit that rouseaboute, mußfcerers and others engaged abbot a shed during shearing time were engaged in ifidofitriif, and, thwetofie*

notwithstanding the fact- that an industrial award had been made in favour of the shearers, stlch award would binding on the rouseahouts so far as.preventing a strike.

Mr O’Connor • Let them form a union of their own.

Mr Boreham, continuing, skid that was just what the Act said very, plainly, they could not do. They must belong to the shearers* Union to get the benefits of any award of the Court.

Mt M. Kennedy suggested that the meeting should adjourn for a freek.

Mr Boreham moved a hearty vote of thanks to the delegates for their visit to Waimato, and this was Carried by the meeting. A vote of thanks was passed to the chair, and the meeting terminated.

Subsequently the delegates met Mr Boreham, and it was agreed, subject io the respective unions agreeing thereto, to work in conjunction with each other. Simultaneously with the shearers seeking an award, the Workers will do likewise, thus both parties will be granted an award at the Same time. In order to bring this about Mr Boreham will go to Timaru at an early date.