CLAIM FOR WAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 August 1936, Page 2

CLAIM FOR WAGES

JUDGMENT FOR PLAINTIFF. In the Magistrate’s Court, at Hokitika, yesterday, before Mr. H. Morgan, S M Thomas Arthur Farrell, of Greyniouth (Mr. T. F. Brosnan) claimed from K. D. V. Boxes Ltd. (Mr. H. Park) £24/18/1, as wages allegedly due to plaintiff whilst working at the .defendant’s company’s mill in South Westland. . , Mr. Brosnan, in his opening address, said that the claim was an echo of the dispute between the defendant company and its employees towards the end of February of this year The mill closed down on February 26 and the employees had to take action through the secretary of the Timber Workers’'Union to obtain payment ol wages due. The secretary of the Union had been successful in obtaining payment, after prolonged negotiations, in respect of all men employed, with the exception of plaintiff and a man named Rapley. The defendant company contended that these two men were contractors and that they ivere entitled to nothing because the advances made to pay the wages to tne other employees exceeded the amount due under the contract. Plaintiff con tended that there was no concluded contract, and that although the term? had been discussed and finally settler upon, the contract itself had nevei been signed and was not to be taker up by the contractors until certain necessary alterations, at the expense of the Company had been effected. Be

fore these alterations were completed the Company closed down the mill. Plaintiff’s claim was that he was employed by the Company to effect tne alterations, at £1 per day. The evidence of Raymond Ryan (South Island manager of the Company) and Charles Capamagian (director)" had ben taken in Auckland, and that of Robert Rapley in Greyniouth. Evidence by the plaintiff was given on the lines of counsel’s address, and evidence was also given by Hubert Richard Southorn, of Dobson, ■ ana Frederick Lovell Turley. No additional evidence was called for the defendant, and Mr. Park addressed the Court on the evidence already taken. The Magistrate intimated that he did not wish to hear Mr. Brosnan in reply and gave judgment for the full amount claimed, with costs and witnesses’ expenses bringing the total amount of the judgment up to £42 10/4. _____