BASIC WAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 25 November 1936, Page 4

BASIC WAGE

BOARD AND LODGING DEDUCTIONS CAN BE MADE ARBITRATION COURT’S DECISION (By Telegraph-Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Arbitration Court announced that it had decided that deductions can be made by an employer from the basic wage under the New Zealand Licensed Hotels Employees’ agreement if the employer supplies the worker with lodgings, supplies board, or supplies both. The amount the employer is permitted to deduct from wages in con- ! sideration of his supplying these serj vices is the amount prescribed in the 'agreement as being their value. I The same principles are applicable j to the Wellington Tea Rooms and Resj taurant Employees’ Award, which makes provision for the supply of meals and, in some cases, lodgings, to workers. In the course of the judgment Mr Justice Page said: “It is, we think, clear that provision of board and lodging is to be regarded as payment or discharge of part of the weekly wages to the extent stated in the agreement. Thus, where an agreement fixes the value of board and lodging at £1 10s a week provision of such board and lodging is equivalent to the payment to the worker of £1 10s in part-dis-charge of his weekly wages.”