WAGES AND OVERTIME

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 125, 23 November 1923, Page 3

WAGES AND OVERTIME

TIME EESTRICTION IN REGARD TO CLAIMS.

(BY IKEORAPB.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

«™ .CHRISTCHUKCH, 22nd Nov. Claims for arrears of wages and overtime are restricted by the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to thirteen weeks from the date on which the last payment became due and payable, and the thirteen weeks date back from the date the action for recovery is commenced." Mr. H. Hunter (workers' representative on the Arbitration Court) writes in a letter to the secretary of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council. Mr. Hunter explains that this provision of the Act is not generally understood. Mr. C. Renn, secretary of the Chnstchurch Printing Trades Union, wrote to the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Labour) asking that the Act should be amended by extending the period in which action may be taken by a worker for recovery of arrears of wages or overtime, from thirteen weeks to six months. , The Minister has replied that the request .will receive his careful consideration when amendments to the Act are under review, and he will be pleased to receive details of cases of hardship under the present law.

Writing under the same date, Mr Hunter states: "The Court has decided that no deduction can be made from apprentices' wages for time lost while attending military duties, parades, and encampments, and that that lost time has not to be made up by the apprentices, nor can time lost through sickness be deducted from apprentices' wages An employer can require an apprentice tomake up tune lost by sickness only when »n award specifically provides for that course.