GROCERY SHOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 14

GROCERY SHOPS

PAY OF EMPLOYEES INEXPERIENCED ADULTS RULING OF COURT SOUGHT [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Sunday An interpretation of the Arbitration Court respecting the employment of inexperienced adult assistants in grocers' shops was sought by Mr. F. Wilson, inspoctor of factories, Hamilton, in an action under the Grocers Assistants and Drivers' Award, heard by the Court in Hamilton on Friday. Mr. Justice Page presided, and associated with him were Messrs. W. Cecil Prime and A. L. Monteith, assessors. Mr. Wilson claimed the recovery from James Learmonth, grocer, of Waihi, of £5, as a penalty for an alleged breach of the Northern Industrial District Grocers Assistants and Drivers' Award. He said that, during the week ended November 9, 1935, the respondent employed an assistant, and failed to pay her the minimum rate of wages fixed by the award. This employee, the inspector added, was given work as a grocer's assistant at 25s a week. Her age was then 25, and he contended that, although no provision was specifically made in the award for the employment of adult* without experience in the tr.ide, anyone so employed was entitled to be paid the full award rate of 85s a week. Alternatively, he contended that it was a breach of the award for a grocpr to employ an adult who had not had previous experience Another case had been adjourned pending the Court's interpretation of the award. No one appeared to defend the case and decision was reserved.