WAITRESSES' WAGES

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 30, 4 August 1921, Page 8

WAITRESSES' WAGES

METHOD OF EMPLOYMENT,

Matters connected with an appeal from a judgment of Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., were argued before the Acting-Chief Justice (his Honour Mr. Justice Sim), at the Supreme Court, to-day. Defendant in the original action wa.9 Dusting, Ltd., a party to the Wellington District Luncheon Room, Tea Room, Refreshment Room, Oyster Saloon, and Restaurant Workers' Award, requiring waitresses for a ball, and defendant engaged them through the secretary of the union. Certain waitresses were memtioned specifically and the defendant, in addition, said there were wanted "five others to start at 6 p.m. on a daily engagement."

, Elizabeth Clark, one of the waitresses so secured on "a daily engagement," ; worked from 6 p.m. until midnight, and was offered 10s for her work. This she declined to accept, claiming that she ■ was l entitled to 2s 6d an hour. When he heard the ease, Mr. Evans, in finding for the waitress, said in his opinion an employer .should not evade the, terms of the awai'd by employing a worker for a "special occasion" as though the engagement by the "day" or, "daily." The "five others to'start at 6 p.m. on a daily engagement" Mr. Evans 1 held to have been employed for a special occasion within the meaning of the award. His Honour this morning said the *-m-, ployer was within his rights in employing ,' waitresses by the day, and k the Magistrate was not justified in referring to his r action as an' evasion of the award. 1 That was begging the question. An employer, if ho chose to employ ,by the day, had to pay a, full day's wages, even if the employee worked only half-an-hour. On the other hand, if he did not choose to employ by the day. he had to pay half-a-crown an hour. The appeal would be allowed, and the matter remitted to the Magistrate.