ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21812, 18 June 1936, Page 12

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

PRESIDENT ELECTED BY COUNCIL

TEMPORARY COMMITTEES APPOINTED

“I hope that the work during the year will, through mutual confidence and goodwill and a spirit of co-opera-tion, be pleasant to the workers, and that it will accrue to the benefit of the society for which we are working,” said Mr G. R. Pomfret-Dodd last evening, when thanking the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society for his election as president. All members of the new council elected last week were present, and Mr Pom-fret-Dodd and Dr. D. McK. Dickson were nominated for the presidency. Mr Pomfret-Dodd was elected by ballot.

Only by absolute co-operation, said the president, could the duties of the council be discharged. He welcomed new members and thanked those who had not succeeded at the election for services in previous years.

Messrs C. D. Wheeler and T. Bain were appointed vice-presidents, and the following temporary committees were set up:—

Finance—Messrs G. L. Pomfret-Dodd (convener), C. H. Lawrence, C. H. Stonyer, and L. B. Hart. Hatchery—Messrs T. Bain (convener), J. Murphy, L. B. Hart, J. W. Simpson, L. A. Dixon, V. Pankhurst, F. Banks, and Dr. D. McK. Dickson. Rangers—Messrs C. H. Stonyer (convener), T. Bain, and Dr. D. McK. Dickson. Game—Messrs I. C. Gray (convener), L. A. Dixon, C. D. Wheeler, W. C. Miller, G. T. Robertson, J. W. Simpson, J. Murphy, N. McGillivray, and V. Pankhurst, The council decided to inspect the stripping operations at the hatcheries on Sunday. , , , , Mr C. R. Russell said he had received two reports of river pollution and he had investigated both complaints. His reports would be made soon. „ , The council accepted his ofler to continue his investigations into reports of pollution. hours of work do not operate until September 1, 1936. Boys Under 18—Section 14 extends the provisions of section 40 of the principal act (which prohibits the employment of female assistants in a restaurant after 10.30 p.m.) to boys under 18 years. Notice of Changes—Section 15 provides for notice to be given to the inspector by the occupier of an hotel or restaurant of any change of the whole or half-holiday of any assistant. Work in Offices Exemption From Closing Hours— Section 16 removes the exemption from the hours of closing of offices contained in section 46 of the act. In respect of auctioneers, banks, insurance companies, and wholesale warehousemen. Offices in industries where it is necessary to deal with the public in the evenings, such as shipping, railway, tramway, newspaper, telegraph agencies, cable companies, or telegraph companies, or freezing companies or forwarding agencies, or harbour boards, wool brokers, or wool buyers, are exempt from closing their offices at 5 p.m. and at noon on Saturdays. This exemption is extended to passenger transport services and offices of auctioneers situated in stock salevards. as it is necessary in such cases to attend to the public after 5 p.m. and on Saturday afternoons. Earlier Half-day Closing—Section 17 requires all offices covered by the act and not exempted from the closing provisions to close at 12 noon on the half-holiday, instead of 1 p.m. Overtime in Banks —Section 18 provides for overtime to be worked in banks for any of the special purposes mentioned. Overtime for any such time worked is to be paid in accordance with the act.

Shop Assistants’ Overtime—Section 19 provides for an increase in the minimum overtime rate for office assistants from 9d to Is 6d an hour, and also for a meal allowance of Is 6d on any day in which overtime is worked. All office assistants are to be entitled to overtime payments. Special provision is made, however, in regard to overtime in banks. Time and Wages 800k —Section 20 requires an occupier of an office to keep a time and wages book in the same manner as occupiers of shops and to pay to office assistants the minimum rates prescribed for shop assistants. Sub-section (2) requires the minimum rates of wages prescribed for shop assistants to be paid to all assistants employed in solicitors’ offices, mining companies’ offices, and miners’ union offices, but overtime is not payable to such workers.

General Clauses for Shops and Offices

Dismissals—Section 21 provides that a worker in a shop or office shall not be dismissed or have wages reduced by reason, of any reduction in working hours as provided for in the act. If any person has his wages reduced or is dismissed after the commencement of the act, the pnus is placed on the employer of proving that such reduction or dismissal was not contrary to this section.

Wrongful. Employment—Section 22 provides that an assistant shall be entitled to payment for overtime even where such assistant has been employed during extended hours in breach of the provisions of the act. Period for Action at Law—Section 23 extends the period in which proceedings may be taken for a breach of the act from three months to six months.

Effect on Awards—Section 24 makes provision similar to that contained in the Factories Amendment Act, and provides that the provisions of awards and industrial agreements shall be read subject to the provisions of the act, but this is not to be construed to reduce rates of wages being paid pursuant to any award or industrial agreement, or to increase working hours fixed by any such award or agreement.