HOTEL WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 274, 18 November 1936, Page 16

HOTEL WORKERS.

BOARD AND LODGINGS.

BASIC WAGE DEDUCTIONS. / QUESTION FOR COURT. i (By Telegraph—rress Association.) WELLINGTON', Tuesday. By means of an application for an interpretation of the licensed hotel workers' award, the private hotel workers' award, and the tearoom and restaurant workers' award, the Arbitration Court was asked to-day to decide whether deductions can be made by an employer from the basic wage for males or females in cases in which the j employer supplies the worker with lodgings or supplies the worker with board, !or with both. If the answer is in the affirmative, the Court is asked what is a fair and equitable amount fof the employer to be permitted to deduct for those services. After statements had been presented on behalf of the workers and the employers, the Court reserved its decision. On behalf of the workers, Mr. P. G. Young said they did not agree that the basic wage fixed was sufficient for the purpose intended and were anxious that further reductions should not be made under the contention that goods or services were being supplied. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 193(5, did not authorise reductions**in the basic wage, or payment otherwise than in cash except at the Court's direction.

Mr. Young drew attention to injustices that arose in tlie manner of making deductions for meals which it was inconvenient for a worker to eat at the place of his work. If the Court ruled that it could authorise deductions to be made by an employer under awards for board and lodging provided by the employer, the workers asked if, in the opinion of the Court, the prerogative of deciding whether board and lodging should be provided rested entirely with the employer or should be by mutual consent.

Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, for the employers, contended that board and lodging had a value according- to the amount the award required should be paid in lieu of them, and, further, that board and lodging having been given, the money value of such board and lodging became part of the wages. Tn substantiation of this he quoted the clauses in the award providing for allowances and the definition in the award of "full pay" as cash wages plus the amount allowed for board and lodgings as provided in the award.