GROCERY TRADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 273, 16 October 1936, Page 3

GROCERY TRADE.

STATUS OF ASSISTANTS

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 15

Alost grocery stores have counters at which are sold ham, bacon, dairy produce and sometimes sausages. In the Alagistrate’s Court to-day, Air E. F. Reid, S.M., was asked to decide whether assistants at such counters were grocers or butchers, the Labour Department having prosecuted three, eitv firms with grocery stores for alleged breaches ot the butchers’ award by employing assistants alter 5 p.m. without payment of overtime. As grocers’ assistants they could work till 5.30.

It was stated during the hearing that if the contention ol the department was sustained, then every grocer in the Dominion would be affected. Witnesses tor defendants said that it was the custom tor grocers' shops to sell certain classes of preserved or cured meats, such as ham and bacon, but not fresh meat. The only meat sold by grocers which could be described us fresh was in the form of pork sausages. The assistants were not trained ns butchers and knew nothing of the butchery trade. The Alagistrate reserved his decision.