ACTION FOR ALLEGED WRONGFUL DISMISSAL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 175, 26 July 1907, Page 5

ACTION FOR ALLEGED WRONGFUL DISMISSAL.

At the Magistrate's Court • this morning Charles Ball brought an action against the Marlborough Brewery and Crated Water Company for £1 12s, a week's wages in lieu of notice. Mr Baillie appeared for the plaintiff, and defendant was also reqresented by counsel. , The plaintiff stated that he had worked for the Company since November, 1906, and received wages at the rate of £1 12s per week. He continued working till the 30th of July, when he was dismissed on the grounds, that the work was slack. He denied having been warned sometime previousto the 26th of June that if he did not cease drinking he would have to leave. He had been told by Mr Hulme that if he would leave the taps alone he had a good billet. He would not admit that he had been warned by either Mr Heffer or Mr Hulme that if he did not discontinue drinking he would bo dismissed. On the day that Mr Hulme spoke to him about leaving the tap alone he did not dismiss him. He had only been warned, and when his ser-, vices were dispensed with he did not receive a week's notice. Counsel for the defendant Company contended that the conduct of plaintiff had been such as to warrant instant dismissal. After having been warned he had appeared at his work almost incapable with drink, and certainly not in a fit condition to be entrusted with work which he was expected to attend to. . Charles Percy Hulme, Secretary and Manager ofr the Company, said that he had received information from Mr Heffer that Ball had been drinking. Because of this lie went to the brewery and had -some conversation with plaintiff, who appeared to be sorry and reformed to a certain extent after. A second complaint was made, and he went to the brewery intending to dismiss Ball immediately, but the boy pleaded to be kept- on, and it v.as -decided to give him another chance, on the strict understanding that he -".vould be dismissed immediately If; the^rfV'en^ occurred, again:" Just; p&iis&r beiiig discharged plain fciS hiid boeii very much under the influence of drink, and had been breaking bottles. Samuel John Heffer also gave evidence as to the conduct of Ball, alleging that he was frequently under the influence of liquor and not in a fit con- • dition to be entrusted with certain duties such as driving the cart. Judgment was given for defendants.