CASUAL WORKERS

Evening Star, Issue 23025, 2 August 1938, Page 11

CASUAL WORKERS

HOT ENTITLED TO PAID HOLIDAY CASE UNDER AGRICULTURAL WORKERS' ACT [Pen United Puess Association.] PALMERSTON N., August 2. Reserved judgment was delivered by Mr Stout, S.M., in what is believed to be one of the first cases of its kind under the Agricultural Workers’ Act. Proceedings were brought by Hie inspector of. factories against Thomas Richard Saunders, fanner, of Gleuoroua, who was charged that, being an employer within the meaning of the Act, ho failed to allow the proportion of annual holidays (on the full money wage paid) prescribed in tho agricultural workers’ extension order of 1937, No. 2, to Edward Smith, agricultural worker, who since the order came into force had completed a' period of employment of less than 12 months, but more than three .months on the farm. “ I am of opinion that the employee was not entitled to the holidays provided in section 15 (I.) of the extension order, 1937,” stales the. Magistrate. “ The worker was not, in my opinion, continuously employed. Ho was paid as a casual hand, and although the work was sufficient to keep him employed five or six days a week, he did not work on Sundays, and was paid in accordance with the hours lie worked at an hourly wage, as fixed foi casual workers. Tho Act, in my opinion, does not contemplate holidays for casual workers, but only for workers employed continuously for seven days in the week and paid a weekly wage. I therefore dismiss the information.”-