ANNUAL HOLIDAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25052, 16 November 1944, Page 7

ANNUAL HOLIDAYS

BUILDING INDUSTRY

OVER CHRISTMAS PERIOD The Auckland Master Builders' Association states that in order to obtain some uniformity throughout the building industry, it has been agreed between representatives of tho employers and employees that it be a general recommendation that the annual paid holiday be taken in conjunction with the Christmas season. It is also recommended by tho association that payment for the fortnight's holiday be made before closing down and that the pay for the three statutory holidays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, be retained by employers until the first pay day in the New Year. As the result of this agreement, about 4000 workers in the industry, over half of them carpenters, will have their first annual paid holiday, which will start on tho evening of Tuesday, December 19, for men employed on ordinary contracts, and at micldav on the Wednesday for those whoso terms of employment are governed by the wartime modification order. In the latter group are men on State housing schemes and essential buildings, such as hospitals, freezing works and rehabilitation premises. After a complete break of two weeks and a-half. which will include the three statutory holidays, the industry will rqsume operations on Monday, January 8. It has been generally agreed that it is preferable to take the extra three days before Christmas, rather than in the second week of the New Year, as it is considered Tin likely that there would be a full attendance of tradesmen if a Thursday start were attempted in January. Men who are entitled to only a portion of tho holiday because their employment commenced after December 1. 1943, will he paid for the time to

which they are entitled and will hav the balance of the time off as a.holiday without pay. The minimum holiday payment will be for five-twelfths of fortnight, as the Holiday Act came into operation on August 1, five montns before the end of the year. Men who have changed their employment since the beginning of August have received from their former employers the proportion of holiday payment due to them for each month. _ , Among those who will benefit by the holiday provisions are, in addition to carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers, painters, roof tilers, plasterers, eloctncians, and builders' labourers.

INJURY TO DRIVER £IOOO DAMAGES AWARDED The amount of general damages due to a driver who was injured in an accident on December 29 last was disputed before Mr Justice Fair and a jury yesterday. The plaintiff was Herbert Gordon Hinton, aged 22, driver, or Weymouth (Mr Haigh), who made claim for £1250 general damages against the New Zealand Express Co. (Auckland), Ltd. (Mr North). Liability for £6/ for hospital expenses and loss of wages was admitted by the company % . Mr Haigh said the plaintiff was working in the defendant company's store in Beach Road when a case of furniture fell from a sling and struck him, fracturing his pelvis. His left leg was now partially paralysed. The company admitted liability for the accident, but disputed the amount of damages claimed. The plaintiff, Mr Haigh said, had leased a property of 'l4 acres at Wevmouth where he intended taking up business as a share-milker, but he was now permanently limited in the work lie could do as compared with other men. _ , Medical evidence was called for tho plaintiff to show the extent of his disability, and the jury awarded £IOOO general damages. Judgment was entered accordingly.