MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3087, 18 May 1917, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

■ ■ ; ' ♦ " ■ BREACH OF AWARD . CASES., Mr. W. G. Biddcll. S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The Inspector of Awards proceeded against Airs. Margaret Alice Parsons, of the Wentwoith Private Hotel, for whom Mr. A. W. Blair appeared, to recover i£lo in respect of each of two alleged breaches of the Wellington Private Hotel and Restauraiit Workers' Award by employing a first hand kitchennmid and 6culleTy worker where two workers were employed and paying her only 30s. (instead of 375. Gd.) per week; also with employing the said 'kitchenmaid for jnore than fifty-two hours, and failing to pay her overtime. Mr. Blair said thri employee who iras responsible for the present action had a habit of visiting licensed hotels and having a "jolly" time. There was also a little boy at the Wentworth, who found it profitable to help tho cook by peeling potatoes, and receiving by way of reward a jam tart or some similar dainty. "It- sorely would not b9 held/' added counsel, "that the boy was an assistant in the kitchen." . > • The defendant, in he evidence, stated that tho kitchenmaid had given hev a great deal of trouble owinp to her habit of insobriety. Slio did not employ atiy other hands in tho kitchen, but did the work herself when the maid was not available. Tho hour of starting n'ork in the morning was 7 o'clock, but the maid often got up earlier and visited the public-house for n stimulant. H was not her fault if the maid began work before the stipulated hour. Asked why she em cloyed a woman with such intemperate habits, witness said she'did so more out of pity than anything else. ' Tn giving his decision, Mr. Biddell said that in the absence of thn evidence of tho employee, who should hnTo been called as a witness, ho could not enter a conviction. He nonnuited plaintiff. Tho Instteclov. of Awards proceeded against John T?. Hall, driver, tn recover tho sum of S'?. for a breach of tho "Wellington and Dist.vict Drivers' Award, in (hat ho loft the employment of Munt, OottreM .and Co., Ltd., and failed to give the re'inisil" notice. Judgment was given for plaintiff for 10s. UNDEFENDED CASES. Judgment was given for plaintiff by default in tho following undefended cases: A. W. and P. C. Brailsford v. .T. Stock, ,£< 15s. fld., costs 125.; T'\ P. Simeon v. Win. Morris, .C 3, costs .£1 175., and possesion of tenement: 1. and Tt. Morley v. Wm. I. l '. Burns, .£27 !)s. M., costs J:2 145.; W. TI. 'I'rengrovo and Son v. Donald firant. XG 145., costs XI 3s. Gd.; City Council v. .Tolin .fackson, XI 4s. Bd., costs 55.; Bluudell "Bros., Ltd., v. E. Lane. 4s. costs; John Ifobert; Burley v. Edgar Thomas Holmes, l.Ss., costs Ks.; Alexander Ahredson v. Haydn A'lgar, ill 6s„ costs 13s. Alfred Edwin.Colmer proceeded against .Tolin Hourko for possession of portion of ■A tenement and .£2 damages. After hairing the evidence, the Magistrate' nonsuited the plaintiff. _SMAT,r, POLICE T,TST. Uniily Toster was fined 55., in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness, and three first- offenders ■fffffi. cpHvistsd and discharged, . ,