Hide Article Text (OCR)
“Wet” SheepALIJ»ED VICTIMISATION CAUACTION AGAINST' CONTRACTOR.The Industrial Magistrate (Mr. W E. McKenna) reserved hie dec lei or In « case heard In the Industrial Court, Winton. on Monday, when th« Australian Workers’ Union. represented by the district secretary at Lonimch. Mr. G. H. Devries, proceeded against Walter Will lam Wick-er. shearing contractor Cor allegedll dismissing men who were entitled U benefits of an award.The defendant was represented bj Mr. B. H. Phillips, secretary of th« Gr asters* Association^ of Central and Northern Queenaland at Longreach.The case arose out of a dlapute ai Leeeon la September. 1937. when thlt; shearers took a ballot and refused U shear #*wetM sheep.Two eh ear era. Royal and Stevens claimed that through exercising theh rights In the partaking In a ballot and refusing to shear the wet* aheep Walter Wicker, the ah^artm contractor had not given them anj further work during the ahearini season although they had a verba agreement with him that he should do_*o.Wicker, after finishing shearing at Lesson had contracted to shear Weeba sheep and Bnryb sheep at Enryl shed. Rangelands sheep and Lew will aheep. After the dispute a* Leesor Wicker had employed only one of thlt; shearers of the gnng of eight em ployed st Leeeon, the one employed being Lindsay McQueen brother of th« manager of Leeson. Lindsay MeQueer had participated in the ballots si the sheds.James McDonald, shearers* rep. for the gang employed at Leeeon lag September, said that the first hitch If the shearing operations occurred or the Thursday after commenclna shearing, when the shearers refused to shear the sheep, which had not bean in the yard for four hours. Next morning fresh sheep were brought Ir between 9.30 and 10 a.m. “Aftei shearing two sheep a man. we took a ballot. Mr. Wicker and I counted the votes, which were seven to oat wet,” stated witness. W# tried then again at one o'clock and after shearing two sheep a man we (09k a be I lot and voted five to three wet. Mr Wicker remonstrated and said thi sheep could not be wet, as It bad no rained. At 3 o’clock after a furlhei ballot had been taken which results In a five to three dry” aheep. wi continued shearing till 6 o'clock. Aftei the ballot at 1 o’clock. Mr.* Wloks; sent for Mr. P. W. Schafer, actlni Industrial Magistrate at Winton.On Mr. Schafer’s arrival at Lee eon he held a conference. Mr Wicker, Mr. McQueen and myself a shearers rep. being preeent. Ii reply to a question from Mr Schafer, as to what was ths trouble I replied. There 1s no trouble a far as £be shearers are concerned We were only exercising our righta We did not send for you.' MMcDonald. In reply to a queetioi by Mr. Devries, said that there wa s dam 260 to 300 yards from thlt; ahed. The sheep possibly would hawWalter William Wicker, la hi evidence said that hs had aent fo Mr. Schafer as he considered then waa s dispute to settle. The sheet could not be wet aheep, as then had been no rain. They were yards* overnight and would not be drivei to s dam or bore, and the sheep ooullt; not possibly have access to the dan near the sheds. He did not tell th men he would not employ them dur lag any further shearing contracts He considered they had been wit! him too long end were Inclined t make trouble. The reason why h employed McQueen for the reet c the season was that he had taugti
Newspaper Details
Longreach Leader
Longreach, Queensland, AU
Sat, Jul 23, 1938
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Annette E.
AU 12 Mar 2024
Other Publications Near Longreach, Queensland
Longreach Leader
