BUTCHERS FINED

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 11

BUTCHERS FINED

MEN START TOO EARLY

Charges against the Hutt Meat' Co., T. Slinn and Son, and Munday and Allcock,. of .allowing their employees to start "work before 6: o'clock on a Saturday morning were' heard before Mr. H. P. Lawry, 5.M.,-in ; the Lower Hutt Court today.. ■ ■

Mr. L, G. ; Goodacre,, ■ inspector of awards, prosecuted. Mr. .C. R. Barrett appeared for the Hutt Meat Co., and Mr. E. F. Rothwell for the other two companies. ,

Mr. Goodacre said that butchers who observed the Saturday half-holiday could commence work at 6. a.m., but the department had •difficulty in persuading some employers' in the^Hutt Valley not to start their men Before that hour. A' visit' was' paid to the premises of the Hutt Meat Co., on Saturday, February 8, at *4.40 a.m. The department had received information that the men were starting work at 3.30 and 4 a.m. Visits were then paid to the other premises_ and men found at work. The firms concerned contended that the work could not be finished in time -unless ah early start were made. Price-cutting was .responsible for the competition and the early starting.. ■ •.".•;.-: .'

Mr. Goodacre said that the men could be employed late on Friday evenings if overtime were paid. ; ' Counsel f6r the defendants submitted that unless the Wednesday half-holi-day were reverted"to- it would be impossible to keep the law. The men wanted the Saturday half-holiday.

The Hutt Meat Co. and T. Slinn and Son were each fined £5,- and Munday and Allcock £3.

The following employees, of the above firms were each fined £ 1 for commencing work before 6 a.m.:—T. Pryke, C. Simpson, P. Russell, L. McGlashan, H. Winstanley, M. Bowe, P. Moore, H. Hayward, O. Dyer, J. Pember, R. Cudby, and G, Munday.