BREACHES OF AN AWARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10085, 25 September 1918, Page 8

BREACHES OF AN AWARD

DRAPERY FIRM PENALISED. 'Two breaches of the Wellington Private Hotel and Restaurant Workers Award were charged against the D.-LL. Drapery Company in tho Magistrate a Court yesterday. The defendant company was charged with employing three female workers in the tea rooms and paying them 25s per week instead _oi 32s 6d; also with failing to provide workers with a substantial meal. The, facts wore admitted, and argument turned on tho legal aspect. Mr A. W. Blair, who represented the defendant company, contended that the workers were not general hands and that they were substantially employed as waitresses. As regarded the second offence, counsel said there was no obligation on the part of the employer to supply the meal, because the girls chose not to re main to receive the meal. Mr R. T. Bailey. Inspector of Awards, argued that seeing that tho girls were doing other work, -namely, kitchen work duties, they wore general hands, and a> such they should receive the rate paid to general hands. With regard to the meal, the Arbitration Court had specified the hour for meals. The defendant could not.say the employees would not wait for meals because they had never given them an opportunity. Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., found that a breach of the award had been committed in each case. Judgment was given for the plaintiff for £5 in the first case and 40s in the second.