HARD HIT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 423, 4 February 1909, Page 5

HARD HIT.

EMPLOYERS BEFORE THE COURT,

(i[, ;./,:/? HE NEW ARBITRATjOj*.; -v^}; =aDiIINISIERED. BY BE. i; S ■'lie first; batch of enforcement;of: cases' heard by a magistrate : inWellington;:, ~.j : came before Dr.-^ ; M'AHhuf,;S.M./^ester-; ; ;;:: : day. morning.- The.; new-order of.'things' is in ■:;": accordance with the .procedure.of- the Indus--. ' /trial Conciliation -and Aibitfationi: Act of last \S year. Previously sncti cases; were taken be 4 ;)■: forev-tKe. Arbitration; Ckinrt, the powers .';bf.;;.-j' ; whidr'jn'; respect; of: enforcement cases;have ; f; : ; now been delegated ;to :inagistrates.,i T;- '£;! 'i'Mr.vAV'.'iE.tLe'Crohj'liißpectbr^bf':Awards, appeared/ in-'suppbrt of '• the;, applications. :.',' : y -s '}■ ''■■.""-Jx'!??'-'.-::?'-:'". '„■'>:'-'. ■-■■.{:h:.-^: i f:-^:i!\i:: ;: -:---\ : [ *S.j;4';A Master Butcher.Fined j£ib. 'y;y- .P-^-k 'ff||h;;;^yJß^femjploJM;ia : ■fendant'"s^^d:tnat".bV;sept«mber : ! yertisWlor.:a'driyery : :th^applt 'carits.forthcoming,' ■'selecte'd'v'avmarneSjman';-;-.;.;! .jvhb -'yitis ;'then\;a ; financial- member : '-6f ;.the£Jt ' Bread ;.Qar^rV■■■lJnjon:^ ; •^The|'■•")ifaan^■ha'd; , b'^\^i' , '; ; ■. (taken on onthe' .understanding"that he could' .;?:£ transfer;; from; the '.Bread Carters'. '-'Union' to:-; v,; 'the;Butehers , ;'Uriion'." i . ; /- :-': f^^< .wore , ': mombers.-.'of the ;• union'.but; of -work;' at-:.- vthe'ltime of .the-breachi'-.tad.it.was'Bpta suffi-y " ; cient '. defence'' to' that; a; : man'■' would ;jpin' i : :'^' ; - : 'the union; justice to;.the'inen■•wHo-i'ad.V'-'.j jthetf : names"bri:tli:e-roll : bf ! - thei..union';-'''their >§ '.nataes , ;should V.BeV,:ovbHooked. ' ; .:The;-.;man':.-;'''; : was ; ;emplpyed; for ; 17.; days '■ bef orV-the ;"6ecre- ' : 0! ,tary;bf.;the. unbin; ; found:out.. :v '--:\£^ : v ■ : l>-"-^'■'?' • ■,TJrii6ny: stated- "thaiJCthe' ''p]oyed-iby/Mr;..;]tt^ of, the union.->■■;■ " ; :. : ' v . V .'V'- ■ --'*; ; sv: i v. ,;: ; r:'S;v

■■'.'■iMi.-'Lo Cfen;pbinted; out tliat the full "penalty, for.'.thp'-breichiwas. £lpp,vbut; the:Def' :partment i • had ./issued; an'. - ; : instructieh, v: .that ■ -wlierb-.the:;cirbumstarices, were^•;not- v ; yatedvthbinsp'ectbrs.: should;npt::prbss : -for 'a : 'heavier.vpenalty,:than-£10.;' : ? V';;' ; % ' .'His-Worship.:V.;V'The'.enipioyer:.'-pursn?d;/>.iii: ;plan';bf ■hls ! pwn. , ':-The.claim'.:*as-a fairbnei ;i£lo.:wbuld : be ,£•■?,

'•'Another vj ß irtcher'■ arid Another" ■■, £ib : "V-:Firrtf-'i>:":=;-,\, f-J- J. ■ Chittendon, : ;butcher, did not:appear;'ih'.vSJ?: ianswer'ito.liavmg'implbyedmore youtns:tHan^'?■■■' ; the^prppbrtipnt allowed; under: -'{rfceubutchers- "';? ;aWa'rd:W('r^'i,*f'Ar''/'^ ~' iMn- Lo tionjof 'iiffairs'uif this 'direction'were'.all6wedv'.v r ? .to.cbntinu'e:.the .employment of.'-I>6y;•■ labour:! : .! : .'vf ii.g^-' 1 v- -\vV]Li : IS >V;Hi_sjWoi^ip'-:thought'tha.tfit'.'wbuld :■ bathe's; ■■Kindest;'thing ■•' to;: do : to v ( -shbw/.emplojeis-'h6wS; : f/ the 'law .-'stood on Tthis.' question'.'-..- j Judgment V-'i ; puld] : ba:'&r:£lo;.::--y;'.r^\-'::v-.^; : -,v,: ; ;;;:^, : l 'Cla'pham.'ahd > viibovep filed:■' a ; 'letter >pf ■: €xpliriationV 7 ; ; ; Judg-M-: Injentfwas ; : 'f.\ i^^'Siv ■ :^ qward,'inVithatiljez-fr-;: jeittjilpyediaE hon^OTbeh\of:.fthe^iipipn^a4:'4'— .-'. -timpi.when.'a- large -number of '. unionists': were,:!,/j-: ' available ; ; and '{mpx&ik^rJ'r-^'p^'V^^ ■Trades''Labourers'-.Union, stated:'.that.oil the; : ;£'i:.: ;dntte.|Of'ito-'alleeed-:bre^ JO liaenibejs.of the, union out,bL'emplbymenfeSf;. M'Kenzie,'foreman- for Mr.-,'RanV;':i-'xonj .'stated ; that:. the .man. in.: question-came ■-: s' ..-and.-asked- for. a job/.'.Witness,: told. hini:'to%v;y-::calLagaih)';tth'd.be^mi^£'giy^'hini;.a.stari;;\:in!"-.;j. reply tpXquesiion \ ..tEe "inaii said' that ..lie was, i;, ■ i not ■' a .member' of.' the iunjon,' but he:suppo'sed TxSi. .he 'could-goliip to : the;Trades. Hall;and join. : .'Whenvhe. came.back- nest': &J, witness:put;.i't'. : him on, but fprg6t.. ; to 1 ask >. I; him!.-;if \'. he': had i ?';V' L joined itK'e-Tiniori, , taking if ! ;foe granted that :-I>e.;'h'ad..;';]fff..'Kan^!a : ;fastrn6tions|were';.to?;;'v!' .mako\-snre^hat''evieTy^a^Vtaken\.on.'.\iras:;n'.V--ri' : ! member of the. union.': :.-;^'--ri;J:..' ; !'-.; : ~ ■"■'.■■■> :■ hav£ made ■ sure v--S: "pfjyour: ■manCijlf/casea'.like' this- were":a'Uo.we'd' r: C; : > to}'pass,,there ( :wpuld : at all.": S ; i ; ;Judgnient';wpuld }$■[ ,':J-/;-; ;;>;.'VS:. Breiohi of; Preference Clause;: i^v cibargetfwitf :i a :! breaoh''vi£ the':--Building. 5 ■TraaesVLa^purer's'^iward, 1 : ay-; 'employing ':'&-■'£:-. inoSfliiibnis'tVTvßen'' aiiinionistfiwas /available; : 3 ;'. : ,filso.i'Sntni ':&■■. breach :of "thefw^ges:Plause|;byJ;-j ; : lnpt;paying' wages :weekly,,- ; :':v '■*-.■ ■■•■• .1 •::;'r > \ i '■"The .man.l.'emplpyed! ; Kadl'workedrfortone ■<% mpnth;;'and : ' had-'Pnly/.'received £I^[whereas -°K .hKi^s^entitled'to}£B.9s:;lod; •■• ■■■■'■;■}■'':■ fy:- £ ■Pefehdan't. i '^as.: ; fined: £10: onj each- charge^;':.'. % i cbste.y.;-'^ , :;:v;;^';;v;; ; ';'^ : /;,'. ; - yr';-} v : :^ /Soy r Too Many{Assistantss £10^. -i '00:;. .-'iv.jji! Odlin. and Co.;. were, charged under: the;;.££ Plumbers': Award with:-€mploying a'greater.o:-!.? jn proportion'to iourney-.v',:' inen'rthatV, provided-by^the:award;.::: i':■'.:"■ :.,i '-M'i vA'Mr..Ed'Cren : said , that whereas .oneir.assisrh'-.fl Jait^was'\'allpwe^-. : for : .€ach : :iqurneyman,^ company:.' ; hadvbneTjourneynian:;apd-fpur>asr sistants7Worldng- : "fairness '-to :L : - ; -j : ;tiie: ; defMantß:;he'shcmld ; -siay ; lihat;this; state' iqf [affairs : was .duel to;slackness" of ;work,;.wliich' j;? 1 ; 'KadiyTesidt^'yn^the,;;^ Pb^^arid-'the^assistents.retained/^:^^: 1 ,' :''-\i-.':p A.;-A.; finfebf..'£lo was .invposed^ ;; :: ■::- '. ■; vA'.V-■' s^ , butchor, : : ;saraparauiriu;j: for■ 'iih employing^a'; man : ac;under-rate^wages,--;wa3;:'; ; V';! -fined;■£3rTthej'€m'pl6yed."-man'-'being r toM;iiUSviu;*' : v fc Failing ;to indenture' ;■,;;';.;; '■■■/'Peter-'Jo'risen';' aid '.Son iwore/ charged ■■■_ with'.;';':.: a; breach'of the :Awa'rd by•. :.s ..failing to'indenture an.apprentico.'.J'je ladi/.j "Had been'Omployed: for; tour;,years -'ivithbut 1 ;;;: indentures, 1 " and .-had- put.-.; On- K'x ■theVlad!'g;:iwagesrgboi.Lwhjlo'.he;^aS'/put;M: L hjmj)ack.:: Pf:'£lo.v- y "was-jmposetf. : '--7" ; ~. -';>■::.'";^ ■■'ftfeH & ..'■;■.Griffiths.-ani Jones, plumbers,'■Pet6h'ey;.wer.e;'iv> :chargedi:Withj-a .' -breajOiT <iiAward. , '■De'fendants' ;^'dr anil lad''put'.on,ah apprentice.io do:'painting.:l;.-; : ; !;wbrk.^'^h ; ei'«i v ,were; a; ; :Put Uii :of;:worki 'and-:the.;■ lad^didj^not^-receive;;'^ "^ -; . ; 'iwago,-.■Ss''.h'e;'.was' entitled The '-'union;' did'npt considerjthis-was .fauvcoin-. ::..'; \'p^titipny:?an4.~fia'd.'^ :principle:^ ! ; v::'::f :r ; :: ;"; :.t ::;:-■:■ •\?S L; -v 1 ■"'-Mr.'-'Jbnes .saii'tho'lad was: quite;.capable of.doingi the wdrfcv "was no; intention ;v.;) ■jof J breaking an'award." As soon as-Mr.;; Lβ:'j.'; Crenhspoko: tji v the;lad ;ho ;ceas<Hi : nyo'rk: : and/ ■jvired to at' , ls.--''4d-. i '.pe'r''honr:io.'cpmplete'--th'e'.']ob.l!:>;-';'.;.:'' ;, !;"' :;; ! A"£10 tt\a'rking ..,that -ho.'saw.: no.-reason; .!to make ,li, : : any:.distinction' in this case.. '.'-. ;:" : : ,-S:;,: vi Mr. Jon,es: It's a bit hard that;an_employe'r>;;" : shpuld,7ha-TO "to. kiipw tence-I.:.►Wβ.- were ; - paying the-' boy-.(according■:.';;■ to'bffr- award.:v->;; ; . -:;:-. .'.;:'■■■:>'» ,v; have nothing: to do' mth-.v'ar--m;;';;.>f;K'/.V'^'.; ; i:.'^;\ ; ;c^;:^^;x> : " Flned; : - :|? : -;S '£&£$ -■', Mrs.:-' Holle, : ' restaurant-keeper, : ;-: ?S .Place,;iw,aß'fihed:.Bos;/;on twb.charges:'of ; :fai}r-v'v; ing.;» 'Vny'- the^ ! :stipulated;:wages/-' :;^t':was v i>'A; '.stated, .that.i defendant -had paid the 'amounts£ ■' : since.'beipg'-summoned.;'-'' ; :;;'^^:, : :: .>:-^:y;.^?W:;: ':; ;'•'.'.■■,-:''.':fc Nljßht' Porter's. Overtiine, :* i : sl?:££. , - 1 Albert Hotel, ,was^lned, l fpr,'employing : a.night porter,for lon'ger : .than-/vV the' stipulated -.hours,-: and,, witll'-'not•■"paying-!'.;.V ; overtime/-'.:;>;' r :V^-.:.: ; .;--:':': r ;'v ;•,:"■■.i\s'--'-<S'-i^ ; .::

Paying Wages: A Right and a Wrong Way. Standidgo and Co , painters, were charged with falling to pay certain employees within, tho time- stipulated by tho award. Mr. Herdman, for defendants, characterised tho offence as a trifling one. They had endeavoured to comp'y uith tho award, but it so happened that on this occasion there was not enough nionoy in. hand to pay everybody, thoreforo it was impossible to pay on tho Saturday. Tho position had boon explained to tho workmen, and they were quite willing, with ono exception, that pajmont should stand over until tho following 'week. Tlk> case would nover haro been heard of but for tho conduct of the ono man, a meddlesome person, who had reported tho matter. Counsel pointed out that previously in inflicting fines tho Arbitration. Court had imposed fines of £2, £3, and £5 for breaches of awards. Dr. ll' Arthur; I havo also seen it reported that tho judg&Njf tlieJLrbitration -Court said

that if these fines did not hare the desired effect they would bo raised considerably. A fine of £3- was imposed. ■ Employing a Non-Unionist. ' The Neuchatel Asphalt, Co. wore charged with a breach of the building trades labourers' award in that they employed nonunionists when unionists were available. At the time'thero were over 60 unionists out of work. • The manager of tho firm explained that the , foreman was ill at tho time, and another employeo had been asked to' secure a man. He , did' so, but tho man ,was not a unionist. He afterwards joined tho union. , A fine of £3 was inflicted.' A Carpenters' and Joiners' Case. Humphries Bros, admitted a Breach of the preference clause, of the Carpenters' and Joiners' Union award by employing a, nonunionist when unionists were available. Mr, Peacock raised the technical objection "*" that tho case must be dismissed, as under Section 14, Subsection C of the Act, no . industrial union could bring such action until a resolution had been, passed to do so. No evidence had been given to show that this bad been done.' Dr. 'M'Arthur said it was quite competent . for the Inspector of Awards to bring the action as he had done. Mr. Peacock "did not press the. point. Hβ said that tho non-unionist had beon employed for his peculiar proficiency in staircaso work. Tho other men on tho books had not been shown to have any peculiar proficiency, ae - Tequired by the award, therefore no breach . of the award could have been made. At the request of the inspector of Awards an adjournment . was granted until Feb- , ijuary 23. ' , Wages in Slack Time. •» / , J. Standidgo and Co. were charged.with i wrongfully dismissing an employee because he was entitled to tho benefit of an award. Mr -Herdman, who appeared for the defendants, said he admitted all the facts except that the man was entitled to the bonefit of an award. The employers did not have the money on tho Saturday to pay some of their employees, the man in question being " one of them. He went to the shop and demanded his money. ' Hβ received the money and ,was then discharged. Tho defence was that the man had been employed out of charity. As time went on trado became slack. It, was known by the foreman of the firm that' the man-was to be dismissed. Tho foreman had, intended to send'him to the shop to'get his'money. The reason for. his dismissal was that the man was no longer required. If this were established then defendants must havo acted in accordance with the law. The man had, on* receiving his money, alleged that ho had been dismissed becauso he had demanded his money and had immediately threatened to report the matter to the union. His Worship said the point in the case seemed to be that if the foreman had in- , tended to tell the man to go to tho shop for j his money he would have told'him first. Ho , was of opinion that tho employees action had facilitated his dismissal, but, as the firm was shortening hands," tho Court would only inflict a fine of £5, with 10s. costs. The Court adjourned until 9.30 this morning.