WAGES TEST CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17890, 19 September 1921, Page 4

WAGES TEST CASE.

TEMPORARY DUTIES.

HIGHER BATE MUST BE PAID [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. If a worker engaged at a weekly wage is called upon at any time to.discharge duties for which a higher remuneration than his usual wage is provided for in the award under which he works he must be paid the higher rate for the full week This is the effect of a recent decision of the Arbitration Court, and the position is causing a. good deal of comment in industria] circles. The position has arisen following upon the recent decision of the Court in a £se in which the inspector of awards sought to recover £10 as a penalty for a brefch of the restaurant and tearoom employees' award from Beaths, Ltd., for having employed as a kitchenmaid and housemaid two workers classed as pantrymaids, and having failed to pay them not less than the minimum rates of wages prescribed for a general hand. The judgment stated that the reference to general hand" clearly related to a male general hand female general hands not being provided for. If a pantrymaid was ca led upon to perform in any week a kitchenmaid s duties, which carried a higher rate of pay, she must, be paid the higher rate for the whole week 'ihe proceedings were instituted as a test, case to secure an interpretation of the award and although judgment was recorded for the plaintiff no penalty was awarded. J