"PIN-PRICKING"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 50, 27 August 1914, Page 8

"PIN-PRICKING"

LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S ;' ' METHODS. criticism"!^ court.

Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., indulged I in some plain speaking in the Magistrate's Court this morning, in giving judgment in a case brought by tho Labour Department undet tho new hotelworkers' award. The Inspector of Awards (Mr. K. A. Bollard) proceeded against F<tfiny Poole, licensee of the Empire , Hotel, for the recover}' of £10 penalty for an alleged breaoh of the Wel« lington hotel- workers* award, in' that she failed to allow an assistant, Henry Domb, a full day's holiday in the week ending 18th July. A similar penalty was claimed for a further breach in. respect of another employee named Mary O'Sullivan. ; It was explained that in. this particular week Domb was allowed to take hia holiday on other than the usual day, ab his own request, and by an agreement under which he was to assist the head' waiter at breakfast and again at dinner in the evening. As tJiia did not constitute a full twenty-four hours' holiday the piosecution was brought, mainly, said the inspector, for publicity. Mr. N. L. Rothenberg, who appeared for the defence, entered a strong objection. Mrs. Poole had known ncthing of the agreement, and on this ground h& asked for a nonsuit. The Magistrate declined to agree with this view, however, and the case proceeded. Mr. Rothenberg said that & warning should have been quite sufficient. " These awards should not bo used to harass employers and employees in their mutual arrangements/ he concluded. In giving judgment, the Magistrate said there had only been a technical breach co far as Mrs. Poole was con:cerned. Tho employee had gained by the agreement instead of losing by it, and he thought it would have been better if the Department had merely given a warning. He would impose a nominal penalty of Is. The second case was then proceeded with. The facts were that Mibs''O'Sullivan was housemistresc at the Empire and practically her own mistress. ,One week she toolt no holiday and the next week two days. Mr. Rothenborg characterised the case as the most trivial he had ever heard of. It was pin-pricking of the worst type. Mr. Bollard said the law must be obeyed, or else the effect of the Act would be nullified. The Magistrate : I don't think you should have brought this case, Mr. Bollard. The information will be dismissed, with coats £l Is against the Department