MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 21, 19 October 1917, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

■ POLICE AND CIVIL CASES. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr. W. 0. Biddell, K.M.. presided, and heard the police aud civil cases; A. remand until Wednesday next, was granted in the case of Thomas A. Murphy, a, married mau, charged with carnally knowing a girl under 16 years of ago. For committing a grossly indecent act in Grey Street, Thomas Clarke wa« lined £3. in default. 14 days' imprisonment. On a, further charge of being drunk .ho was convicted and discharged. A fine of 405., with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment, was imposed on Emily Foster, for a breach of a pro'iibition order, and. for being found drunk sho waß convicted and discharged. For insobriety three first offenders were convicted and discharged. CIVIL OASES. Judgment was given for plaintiff by default, in the followiug undefended cases:— G. W. Kcmpton v. It. C'ifton, £9 6s. 6d.. costs 235. 6d.; B. A. Swain v. Lewis, Murphy and Farmer, £4 65., costs 10s.; Kcir'a Forwarding Agency. Ltd., v. Lewis, Murphy and Farmer, £9135. 4d., costs 235. 6d\; Coiomoreial Agency, Ltd.. v. Mrs. Ada Penketh, £19 Is. 2(1., costs 355. 6d.; Bamc v. H. Lewis, £14 14a. lid., coats 30s. 6d.; William Murphy v. S. Johnß, £4, costs 155.; A. J. Park and Son v. Dominion Hardware Co., Ltd.. £18 14s. .7d., costs 30s. 6d.; Stevenson and Ferguson v. Wellington Structural Engineering Co., £14 12s. 3d.', costs 30s. 6d. RESERVED JUDGMENT. Mr. W. (i. Biddell, 5.M.," delivered judgment in the case of the Inspector of Awards (Mr.Ji. T. Bailey), who proceeded against the Wellington Meat Export Co., Ltd., to recover a penalty of £10 for an alleged breach of the Wellington freezing works employees' agreement in that the defendant company failed to pay overtime rates for Sunday work done by firemen in its oniploy. It was contended by Mr. M. Myers, on behalf of the defendant company, that tho employees were permanent hands, and were not mbject to the agreement, and moreover, that the agreement had been carried out inasmuch aB the rate of pay was made subject to the conditions eiisting at the date of tho agreement, and had not changed. The firemen worked a fixed number of hours on seven days a week, and wero paid a fixed rate. The Magistrate upheld the contention of the defendant company's counsel, and gave judgment accordingly for the defendant.