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Show ISHEEP SSEAREi VOTE WAGE CUT Salt Lake City, March 0 At a .called meeting of the Utah local of the Sheep Shearers' union of North America, held, in the Labor temple last night, a voluntary cut of 5 cents a head from 17 1-2 to 12 1-2 cents approximately 31 per cent, in the rate for shearing Utah sheep, was voted. Recognition by the shearers of the dilemma in which the woolgrowers 'find themselves because or the financial finan-cial stringency and the low price of wool occasioned the action, say the members of the unin. To the cut in the rate, they point out. must be added their increased expense over last year of 30 per cent in railroad fares in getting around from one shearing place to another. Shearing is a migratory occupation. The equip ment which each shearer must buy costs about the same as last year, approximately ap-proximately $100 for the man. The union rate throughout the country last year was 17 1-2 cents with board. The rate of 12 1-2 cents agreed upon last night for Utah also al-so cotemplates hoard. Cuts of 2 1-2 cents from 17 1-5 to 15 cents, half that made by California and' Arizona. Washington is maintaining the rate of last year. In other states the rate is yet to be determined. The action of the Utah local last night becomes official, as under the rules of the union each local regulates regu-lates the rate in its territory. Shearing v will start in Utah the first ween in April, an dwill he in full swing before the middle of the month. If the action taken by the local last night is satisfactory to the woolgrowers. it will mean swift solution so-lution of a situation that was causing caus-ing worry in the ranks of both the growers and the shearers, and Utah's flocks will not be held up this spring Shearers to the number of 150 were present at the meeting last night, and the action was practically unanimous, una-nimous, according to Jack B. John son, president of the local. "We have already been informed that the rate of 12 1-2 cents would be satisfactory to some of the wool-growers wool-growers of the state," said Air. Johnson. John-son. "The shearers realize that, the wool industry is not in the satisfactory satisfac-tory condition thatjt was when the rate was put at 17 1-2 cents, and we are not disposed to help kill a goose that lays any kind of egg at all. "Since it was apparent that a reduction re-duction must be made, we agreed that it should be all that the shearers shear-ers could stand and continue to work at shearing. We are equally agreed that we cannot shear sheep, for less than 12 1-2 cents va head this year and make a living. We are offering to shear just as cheap as we can see our way to do it." The action taken was i. receded by numerous inquiries to the local headquarters head-quarters from woolgrowers as to what rate they might look forward to this season. |