BUTCHERS' ASSISTANTS

Hutt News, Volume 9, Issue 9, 7 August 1935, Page 5

BUTCHERS' ASSISTANTS

« . HOURS OF WORK. "A HA HSU AWARD." Comment on one of the provisions in the Wellington Industrial District Butchers' Award, relating ti.' the hours of employment of' shop assistants, was made by Mr. C, I!. Barrett when entering a plea of guilty in the Lower Hutt Court last week oti behalf of the Hutt Meat Co. and T. AV. Sliun, who were charged with employing shop assistants before the hour of ti a.m. A fine (.'f £2 was imposed in each case by Mr. H. I'. La wry, S.M. Mr. L. G. Gooilacre, inspector of awards, stated thai the award provided j that assistants could start work at 7 a.in or 7.:;<) a.m on ordinary mornings, and li a.in and (i..'!o a.in un one morning of the week. On May 25 employees of both shops were found at ! work at 4..'1(1 a.m. There had been complaints about men at these shops starling too early. A%; far as he remembered, die men only drew weekly wages and no overtime. Mr Barrett (-intended that in the opinion of the butchers this was a harsh award. They said that it was j impossible, where there was a large j country round, for the employers to stick to this provision. It was not .pos-.il.de to cut the orders on a Friday night, for delivery on the Saturday, and these linns had very large rounds. The employers in question paid double wages for the work done before 6 a.m. and also allowed time oft'. AVhen the prevision was put in the ward none of the parties realised that it. would be impossible to start beiore (i a.m on one morning of the week, as was possible in the previous award. AVhen the award expired his clients would press for the elimination of this particular prevision, or ask lor the changing of the Aveekly half-holiday from Saturday to AVeduesday.