MILK ROUNDSMEN FINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 21

MILK ROUNDSMEN FINED

START MADE BEFORE 3 A.M. INCORRECT RECORD OF TIMES [bt TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] WHANGAEEI, Friday 'All the milk roundsmen of Sothern and Company, milk vendors, of Whaugarei, and the firm itself were charged in the Wbangarei Police Court Trith offences under section 4 of the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22, in that the roundsmen commenced work prior to 3 a.m. The firm was also charged with not keeping .a correct record of the times worked by the employees. Pleas of guilty were entered on all charges. Mr. G. A. O. Adler, an inspector of the Labour Department, who prosecuted, said that one morning when he lad been at Sothern and Company's depot the first roundsman had left at 1.50 a.m. The department had previously had trouble with this firm in regard-to the roundsmen starting before 3 a.m. The manager of the firm had stated that the men had a good deal of latitude, but he did not know that they were starting work early. In regard to the wpges book, this showed that the men started at 3 a.m. For the men concerned, as well as for the firm, Mr. R. K. Trimmer said that the men themselves desired the early starting so that they could finish earlier, but the firm was not aware of this. The men had filled in their own t l ln waees an d time book. One of the men was new on the round and S0 (< started earlier. ■V-P 1 ® firm itself must take the respon--6 magistrate, Mr. G. "• Morris, in imposing a fine of £1 and costs, 10s, on each charge. "The Practice of the men filling in the time cook must stop." Three of the roundsmen were fined and costs, 10s, while the other man, ,o was new on the work, was ordered *° pay costs.