MATTER OF HOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1930, Page 9

MATTER OF HOURS.

8 ■'"** SUPREME COURT ACTION. Hours and other staff matters relating to picture theatre management were subject of consideration at the Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Ostler to-day when a ticket seller named Pearl Berry (Mr. Addison) sued. Thomas A. O'Brien, picture theatre proprietor (Mr. Inder) for £60 10/, overtime wages alleged to be due for a period just under six months prior to the closing of Everybody's Theatre in August, 1929. Mr. Addison said the claim was for the recovery of the difference between wages earned under an award under the Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and wages actually received. The award provided for a 36-honr week for ticket sellers at £1 12/6 and 2/6 per hour overtime. The plaintiff's hours were from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily six days a week, making a totaL of 63 hours per week. The plaintiff worked 27 hours per week overtime. She was paid £2 10/0, v.-hereas she was entitled to £.3 per week. Mr. Inder said the time and wages j book put in as' evidence showed a total of 43 hours per week worked by Miss Berry—3o hours being at the ordinary wages and seven hours allowed for overtime, all of which had beeh paid and signed for. After evidence was given by plaintiff, Arthur Thomas Bangs (ex-caretaker of the theatre), Albert L. O'Brien (brother of Thomas O'Brien), Kenneth Wallace (public accountant) and Mollv B. Young (a ticket seller employed at the theatre until May 30 Ja>:>t year) his Honor said the wanes and overtime book showed the employment of only one ticket seller, and she would have had to be on duty from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m., this being supported by the evidence. Judgment was for the amount claimed and costs according to scale, and witnesses' expenses and disbursements. i