INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1937, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

PIECE WORK TEST CASE. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, June 21. A case of considerable interest to employers of piece-workers throughout the Dominion was heard by the Magistrate, Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., this morning, when the Inspector of Awards proceeded against Ross and Glcndining, claiming that defendants tailed to pay the minimum prescribed, the contention being that pieceworkers should have their rates increased by 121 per cent, to compensate for the reduction in working hours io to. Th inspector said that this was a rest, case which affected the interpretation oi all awards in Lice in September. TJ.’lii. The- whole ease rested bi- th-? interpretation of the words, ‘‘the ordinary rate of weekly wages." il was contended by (ho Department that to compensate for the reduced' hours the basis of pieceworkers' remuneration should have been increased in the proportion of 45 to 40.

Mi- Paterson, for the company, claimed that piecework was definitely deliberately not. provided for in the award. Pieceworkers were under no unlract to work from Monday to l-riday at. any stated hours. They did not work 45 hours weekly previously, nor were they working lo now. It appeared that, the workers were able to earn more now than under the 45liour week, but. to arrive at an ordinal y weekly wage the wages would have to be averaged, and he defied the Department to point, to any authority which involved the averaging i-f wages over an unspecified period. The Magistrate reserved his decision.

CHINESE AND SUSTENANCE.

WANGANUI, June 21. Leon Pong, a Chinese, who drew sustenance payments of £l/19/- for six weeks while working in a market garden, whereas he was only entitled to draw 22/- a week, having a wife and one child, was ordered to refund 15/- on each of six charges and ordred to pa> c It . Magistrate’s Court. The .Magistrate (Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M’.l remarked that in dealing with these cases he always endeavoured to ini! ose such a penalty - as would reimburse the Department and so that the p> rson charged would receive no gain through a false declaration.

' FALSE DECLARATIONS. ! CHRISTCHURCH. June 21. I Two cpsi s of men obtaining money I from ihe Employment Division of the 'labour Department through false de- ; ritual ions of income wore hoard at the M a v.: si rate's Court. Joseph Francis O’Brien admitted having obtained £317 10 in this manner and was ord i.'il tn come tin for sontenco if i .-.II- < d on within two years, and to repay the amount as directed by the Probation Officm-. William CosgriiT pleaded prilty tn I obtaining £ll/2/in by -■imil.tr means, {bin ii wm- suited that th-.- mom-y hial | b«‘<.-ii repaid. Cosyriff was ordered itu . ..m.- iip for s- m-u.-.r if called cm jwithin ;ix month: I