MILK BAR WORKERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 6 December 1940, Page 6

MILK BAR WORKERS

EMPLOYMENT IN THEATRE COURT RULING GIVEN [United Press Association] AUCKLAND, This Day. A decision on the question whether two milk bars in an Auckland city theatre are open to the public has been given by the Arbitration Court, in connection with a case stated by Mr J. Morling, S.M., who fined the proprietor of the milk bars £ 10 for alleged breaches of the New Zealand tea rooms and restaurant employees’ award, relating to the payment of tve girl attendants.

The magistrate reported that the bars were open every week night and on Saturday afternoon during cinema sessions. The attendants were each paid 2s 6d at each session, instead of at the rate prescribed by the award ,it being contended that the bars were amenities P’*"vided as a convenience for pictute patrons, who were not members of the public once they entered into a contract with the theatre proprietor, and therefore the bars were not open to the public.

“If the contentions for defendant are sound it could be argued that the theatre was not open to the public for the reasons that only those persons are admitted who have entered into a contract with the management,” Mr Justice Tyndall stated in his judgment, expressing the opinion that the bars came within the scope ' the award.