THE LABOUR LAWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8794, 9 February 1909, Page 2

THE LABOUR LAWS.

Andrew Jack ? plumber, was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon before Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., with failing to pay overtime to Harry Proctor and Bernard Osborno, two apprentices. Mr Culver, Inspector of Awards, conducted the prosecution, and Mr Blair appeared for Mr Jack. Mr Culver said the overtime was made up from the books kept by the apprentices in which their time was entered each day, the beck being kept in Mr Jack's office. Harry Proctor, called, eaid he started work for Mr Jack in September, 1906. On the 23rd of April. 100S, he had worked 12 hours overtime, and on the 17th of the same month he had also worked all night. He received 10s for. both jobs, which was the only overtime he had ever received. All the time entered in the book produced was correct. The book was notkept by himself only for practice.* Bernard Osborn© said that the books were kept only for practice. Some of the entries made for overtime were for work which he had done himself for practice in learning the trade. He had always been paid overtime, and had never complained to the Inspector that he had not been paid overtime. He did not know of any overtime the witness Proctor had worked which he had not been paid for. Mr Blair, for the defence, submitted that the books could not be taken seriously, as records of the hours worked by the youths. His Worship upheld the view, and dismissed the casee.