UNDER-RATE WORKER

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1926, Page 3

UNDER-RATE WORKER

UNION CLAIM FAILS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 17. There were some lively passages between counsel and a union secretary during the hearing of a case in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. The matter was one in which the Storemen’s and Packers’ Union claimed a penalty from Briscoe and Company for alleged breaches of award. Mr Mountjoy, of the Labour- Department, who conducted the prosecution, said that the defendants had employed two men in their store, and had failed to pay them the award rate of wages. Evidence was given by John Tucker, secretary of the Storemen’s and Packers’ • Union. He said he received an application from Briscoe and Company, asking for air underrate permit for a man named Gibes. A representative of the firm had informed witness that Gibbs was mentally weak. Witness considered that Gibbs was doing a storeman’s work, and should have been receiving £4 instead of £2 18s 6d a week. Mr Watson: You are responsible lor this prosecution?—To a certain extent. You have informed Briscoe and Co. that you would prosecute them when-

ever you could ?—Never. You have been ordered off their premises ?—Yes. You have repeatedly tried to make trouble with their employees?— Never. Did Briscoe and Co. inform you that Gibbs was not capable of keeping itp to the mark, and that they wanted to keep him on because Mns father had -been forty years in the firm ?—They told me he was weakminded. He is not a member of your union? —No, because he was compelled to be a member of the Guild. You have tried to persuade Gibbs to join the Union?—l never approached him on the subject. You know that your action will force the man out on to the street? — That is not so. Is it not a fact that you and your Union have a feud against Briscoe and Co. because they prefer nonUnion men ?—I have told them that they are the only firm that fight against the Union. Evidence was given by David Ambrose Gibbs, who said he had been employed for three years as a general hand, and also did packing. He made application for an under-rate permit two or three months ago. To Mr Watson, witness said that Briscoe and Co. had always treated him fairly, and he did not want to

become a member of Tucker’s Union. >Since May 17, when the summons had been issued, he had not been working, but had been paid full time by Briscoe and Co. Evidence as to the class of work was given by John Miller, in respect of whom a second allegation was made. R. T. Bailey gave evidence of an application for an under-rate permit having been made on behalf of Gibbs. Judgment was given in favour of defendants.