AWARD BREACHES

Northern Advocate, 5 November 1935, Page 4

AWARD BREACHES

CASES BEFORE COURT. REGULAR AND OVERTIME RATES. “NO QUESTION OF IMPOSITION.” A claim of £ 10 against Wallace Supplies, Ltd., for failure to pay overtime, was (made in the Whangarei Magistrate’s Court this morning, by Mr W. J, Berryman, Inspector of Factories and Awards.

The inspector said that on May 19, a Sunday, between. 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., several employees had worked, and the manager admitted that the time was not entered, though time had been allowed off. The overtime had since been paid. Mr Trimmer, for the defendant company, said that any complaint had (not come from the staff. Five of the staff were paid over the award wage, and five who were younger received the award rate. The employees themselves had suggested a rearrangement of the shop, and suggested that they should come down on Sunday to do the work. The manager said he could not pay them, but the employees were sufficiently interested .in their jobs to want to do the worh for nothing. The manager said he would, allow them time off. It was not a question of a staff being imposed on. The overtime had since been paid. The Magistrate, Mr G. N. Morris, S.M., said he understood this, but the court could not afford to let the impression get abroad that the award cpuld be. observed more or less. The award was there, and it had to be observed. An award of £3 was made. Bakers’ Award.

C. B. E. Bates, owner of a bakery, had a claim for £lO made against her separate estate for failure to pay penalty rates to bakers commencing work before the usual starting time, failing to show starting and finishing times in a book, and failing to pay overtime rates on hours worked in excess of 46.

The inspector said he. had found on an inspection that work had started earlier than allowed by the, award, and starting and finishing times were not shown.

Mr A. M. Woods, for Bates, said that there had been no attempt at evasion. Defendant had not known that under a new award the hours had been reduced from 48 to 46. He submitted that the breach was only a technical one.

A total award of £3 was made. Motor Mechanics.

A sinjilar claim was made against Kia Ora Motors for failure to pay award rates and overtime.

Mr Trimmer said that the arrears had been promptly paid. The manager had not known that the award had been reinstated, but when other prosecutions had been made he had taken steps to find out the position. An award of £1 15/ was made.