A MISUNDERSTANDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 107, 7 May 1924, Page 8

A MISUNDERSTANDING.

HOTEL WORKERS' AWARD. INTERPRETATION SOUGHT. Does time and a-half for holidays in the Hotel Workers' Award mean that employees must receive a day and a half's pay in addition to their ordinary wages, or 50 per cent in addition, was the problem tlie Arbitration Court was asked to solve this morning, when Mr. W. Slaughter, on instructions from the Labour Department, sought an interpretation of clause 4A in the Licensed Hotel Employees' Award. The clause referred to states that for special holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, (!ood Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, and the Sovereign's birthday) "employees who work on such days shall be paid time and a-half for such work." Mr. ]>. L. Hammond, assistant secretary of the Employers' Federation, appeared for the Licensed Victualler*' Association, and .Mr. Jackson for the Licensed Hotel Employees' Union. Mr. Hammond contended tin . Clause meant only jO per cent in addition to the ordinary day's pay, but this \\aoppoacd by Mr. Jackson, who was emphatic that the rate was to be 150 pi'r cent in addition, and said that there was never any doubt in his mind as to uhat was meant when an agreement. wii, reached by tlie parties at a conference. On the other hand, Mr. Hammond was quite as emphatic that the employers were clear that only 30 per cent was meant. Both sides said that had there been any doubts, no agreement would have been readied at the conference. His Honor (Mr. Justice saiil it. was unfortunate that there should be misunderstanding by both parties, but the i|uestion for the Court to decide was what was meant by "time and a half rates." The Court reserved its decision.