INDUSTRIAL CASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15055, 26 July 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL CASES.

IGNORANCE NO EXCUSE.

Several cases involving breaches of various awards were before Mr. C." C. Kettle, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. E. W. F. Gohnsj inspector of awards, prosecuted.

J. E. Thorpe, licensee of the Occidental Hotel, appeared on' a charge of having committed a breach of the Auckland Hotel, and Restaurant Employees' award by engaging a barman without first communicating with the union. Defendant pleaded ignorance of the provisions of the award. ' Well," said Mr. Kettle, ".it will cost vr.u £2." and imposed a penalty accordingly. A charge of employing an apprentice before first having a journeyman fully employed for two-thirds of th© previous six months, contrary to the terms 01 the Auckland furniture trades' award, w?s j made against W. Pw, wood-carver, of j Ponsonby. Defendant pleaded ignorance, and was fined 20a.

PAYMENT OF WAGES.

NO WAGES BOOK KEPT.

FAILING TO CLOSE SHOPS.

A case involving an alleged breach of the North Auckland timber workers' award in that payment of wages was not made half monthly was brought by the North Auckland Timber Workers' Union against the Ness Vale Land Company, which haa a mill near Clevedon. Mr. A. S. Skelton appeared for the nnion, and Mr. E. W. Burton for the defendants. - Evidence was given by a workman concerned, : to the effect that the wages had been paid whenever he came to town. It was sometimes inconvenient to -have to wait for the money, but nevertheless, on the whole/it suited the witness better to let his money accumulate in Auckland. A fine of £5 was imposed.

G. H. Ravines, licensee of the Naval and Family Hotel, Newton, for whom Mr. Massey appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge of not keeping a wages arid overtime book. Defendant, it was stated, had a book in his possession in which ho had the signatures of his employees, but had failed to enter the' time. He had merely written the amounts payable to each employee; together with time worked, upon the butts of his cheques. A fine of £5 was imposed, the magistrate remarking that it was a case of carelessness.

W. E. Smith, grocer, Ellerslie, and F. C. Jackson, grocer, Ellerslie, for failing to close their premises at. seven p.m. in accordance with a requisition relating to grocers' shops in the district, were fined £2 and £5 respectively. Mr. W. Hood, inspector of factories, prosecuted.