NEW ZEALAND LABOUR MATTERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 4 March 1914, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND LABOUR MATTERS

UNSATISFACTORY AGREEMENT. RIGHT TO WORK REFUSED. (Uhitsd Prjess Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH. March 3. An interesting' case of a breach of an industrial agreement- came before t-'e Magistrate's Court to-day, when Nippert Bros., painters and papevhtingers, ■were sued by the inspector of awards for a breach of the industrial agreement ■with the journeymen painters, by employing men on Saturday afternoon. Counsel admitted the offence, satins that the clause in question _ was anomalous, denying- the.men the right to work. In this case the employers had' ; painting contract, and found it- uecei?aiy <o push on. The men worked voluntarily <>ne Saturday afternoon, and we're, paid. The time was long past when men could be denied the right to work. The Magistrate remarked that the agreement was ill-considered. The claure should have been objected to long before., The painters' trade was peculiarly dependent on the state of the weather.- . "The inspector asked for a bent penalty.but wished to make the defendants an; as employers were 100 prune to-treat'industrial agreements hgn^y. The Magistrate gave a nommai penalty ;,;remarking 'that the clause was an anomaly., .'-'' "■ ' „ .. ."•The -next development wlt ie l -° prosecution' of' the -workmen. - '