PAYMENT FOR HOLIDAYS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22110, 4 June 1937, Page 10

PAYMENT FOR HOLIDAYS

DEPARTMENT'S ACTION CRITICISED APPEAL LODGED AGAINST TEST CASE DECISION Criticism of the action of the Labour Department in prosecuting a firm for non-payment of holiday pay in the recent test case in Wellington was expressed yesterday in a statement issued from the annual meeting of clothing manufacturers. Following the meeting advice was received by the secretary that an appeal had been lodged against the decision. The case was heard before Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., to decide whether employees were entitled to an additional day's pay for an award holiday that fell on a day on which the factory would ordinarily be closed. -The decision was that employees were so entitled. The statement issued by the clothing manufacturers said that members were surprised at the action of thj Labour Department in prosecuting a firm for non-payment when it had previously furnished an interpretation of the amendments to the act to the Manufacturers' Federation and the Employers' Federation stating that payment over and above the normal week's wages was not required. The meeting had decided to recommend the Employers' Federation tp lodge an appeal against the decision for the firm which had been prosecuted. The ruling affected every factory in the Dominion and would involve thousands of pounds, it was stated. It was also recommended that because of the numbers concerned a meeting of all employers affected should be held at an early date to consider the matter further.