"SWEATING" LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 196, 21 August 1933, Page 15

"SWEATING" LABOUR.

BULGARIAN IN MELBOURNE. HEAVY PENALTIES IMPOSED. In dismissing an appeal by Angel Petroff, a Bulgarian boot and shoe manufacturer, of Fitzroy, Melbourne, against five convictions and fines aggregating £50 for underpaying operatives, Judge Foster, in the General Sessions Appeal Court caustically commented on the unfair methods employed by Petroff in competition with decent employers. Evidence was given that certain operatives worked from C a.m. until 9 p.m. on week days, and from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturdays. One employee worked 78J hours, in one week (from February 10 to February 16) for 60/. He was employed on piecework. Others worked similar hours for £4 1/9 a week. In addition to imposing fines, the Lower Court ordered Petroff to pay arrears of wages totalling £142 9/10, and £17 17/ costs. Judge Foster affirmed those orders, and directed Petroff to pay £15 15/ extra, to cover the costs of the appeal. He said he regretted he had no power to increase the penalties. "These offences are extrmely srious," said his Honor, "tin have a serious bearing on the standard of living. . Employees should be protected with the utmost rigour of the law." The prosecutions were brought by an officer of the Factories Department. Macedonians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Yugoslavs, a Turk and Australians were among the witnesses called by both sides. Petroff's defence was that he had observed the Wages Board determination. He said he worked the five operatives involved from 8 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on week days, and he denied having worked them on Saturday.

His Honor expressed the opinion that the witnesses did not thoroughly under, stand the questions put to them by the interpreter. Ho regretted that Petroff had dominated his employees, who were entirely dependent upon him for a living.