"STUPID THING."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 173, 24 July 1930, Page 7

"STUPID THING."

TRIFLING APPLICATION.

GIRL AND HER WAGE.

INTERPRETATION OF AWARD.

JUDGE'S STRONG COMMENT,

"I think it is liigli time that we had another Court, when an expensive Court like this is worried with such infernally stupid things as this. It is just about as stupid a thing as I have heard for a long, long time." This comment was made in the Arbitration Court this morning by Mr. Justice Frazer, when the Inspector of Awards sought an interpretation of the Shop Assistants' Award as it related to pattern clerks in drapery departments. It was explained to the Court that a woman was employed by a city firm to prepare samples of goods in a dress department, and to send them out to customers. The work consisted of cutting strips of material from bolts, and making them up with the sample cutting machine. The question was asked if this work came within the scope of the award, and, if so, within the scope of clause 8, entitling the worker to payment of half more than the wages specified in clause 3 relating to female workers. Mr. G. F. Grieve, representing, the Inspector of Awards, said the girl actually cut material from the bolts, but it wis suggested by the employers that that was done contrary to instructions and not part of her duty. The employers' representative, Mr. S. E. Wright, said it was claimed by the firm concerned that the girl was .a member of the office staff and not a shop assistant. Miss Purcell, secretary of the Retail Shop Assistants' Union, said that in other shops assistants in the various departments cut their own patterns. The union took the view that the girl in the present case was a shop assistant as she assisted at the counter during busy periods and at lunch hours.

His Honor said that the question was whether sample work was work that might he considered work of shop assistants, or whether it might be considered more or less office work. "So tlio Court has to solemnly decide whether" a 'girl who chops up a few samples is to get 50 per cent more than £2 12/6," he added. "Oh, well, I had better not say too much. We will consider the question and give our decision in writing."