WORKMEN'S WAGES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2410, 16 January 1895, Page 2

WORKMEN'S WAGES.

t ; - AN, IMPORTANT POINT. , By Telegraph,—Press Association. Auohland, January 15. , ; Recently a number of employees waited on the Hon W. Jeimings, M.L.C., with a Vjpw to ascertaining whether employers were justified in deducting a percentage of their wages in order to form a fund for insurance against accidents, &o. ;It seems that a number of employers in Auckland have adopted this practice, a certain proportion of every man’s wages being deducted each week to form an insurance fund. The men object to this, as most of them aka members of-friendly societies, which give aid in'case of illness. , ' Mr Jennings telegraphed to 'the Govorh- . ir.eiit on thqsubiect, and he has received the following reply” froth the, Hou IW- PReeves :—f‘The Croylu Law Office endorse? the opinion expressed' in my former to'.i‘gr':|ni. The employer cann'ot aedncf if tfifi wqrkipaij objects. The Employers’ Diabslity Act givfis no such power- They possibly rely on Sutosectien . 7, Section 19, j of tho Truck Act, 1891, which says that I fhe Trijck Act shall not extend to prevent an employer frerfi advanpipg opt of and • deducting from wages money to be cqntrj- * buted by the workman to any friendly or | other society; but that can only be done j \ath tfio workman’s consent, and in the afisente of 'snolj eon?ej}t SJegtipn | of that Ac): applies,’ viz.—that tho entire amepat j of wages shall ho actually paid in money, ! and not otherwise.”