STABILISATION BREACH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 64, 16 March 1944, Page 6

STABILISATION BREACH

PAY IN EXCESS OF BASIC RATE

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Wednesday

Charges of breaches of the stabilisation regulations were made against the firm of John Edmond, Ltd., in the Magistrate's Court to-day. It was stated that three of the firm's employees had been paid in excess of the basic rate and that it was an offence under the regulations for an employer to do this and for the employee to accept. The firm was short staffed, and wages had been increased to make up for extra work!. An increased bonus had also been granted, and this was also an offence under the regulations.

Counsel for the firm, Mr. G. C. Cruickshank, stated that two of the men involved were now doing work that had been done in the past by 11 men, and that the case should have been brought against the employees too.

Mr. C. Abernethy, S.M., said it seemed that both the employer and the employees should be charged and the matter left to the Court to decide who was to blame. In the general principle both were severally liable and should be severally charged. He would treat the matter as a technical breach.

The firm was fined 10/ and costs, 10/, on each of three charges, and solicitor's fee of £2 2/ is to be paid in the case of charges concerning two of the employees.