I just noticed a mistake in the Digital Tradition words to "Click Go the Shears" and a corresponding mistake in the explanations for the same song.

The songs words "Colonial Experienced Man" should be "Colonial Experience Man".

The explanation...

Colonial Experienced Man: A sort-of Humane-Society inspector.

... is, I think, someone having a joke. or making a wild guess.

A "Colonial Experience Man" was a term used to describe someone from the British aristocracy who had done something scandelous in Britian and been banished to "the colonies" by his familiy for a while until the scandal blew over. They were said to away getting "Colonial Experience". Another related term often used was "Remittence Man", as they lived off money remitted on a monthly basis from their families in Britain.

In the case of the song, the Colonial Experience Man, is very definintley an English toff, come to amuse himself by observing the working class shearers at their labour. It has nothing to do with humane societies, RSPCAs etc.

Cheers,

Bill (Snake Gully Bush Band)