TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19530, 13 July 1925, Page 8

TELEGRAMS.

(Per United Press Association.) < AUCKLAND, July 11. The presence in the Apprentices’ Act of a loophole for an unscrupulous employer was coilunented upon in the Arbitration Court yesterday by Mr Justice Frazer, when an interpretation on the question of the registration of a contract between an employer and his apprentice was sought by the Labour Department. The intended construction, said his Honor, was that the contract should be written,- and a written document registered within 14 days. There was certainly a weakness in the section, which was ambiguous. There was a loophole for an unscrupulous employer, because there was an offence in employing a bov before a written contract was entered into. The time for the completion of a written contract was unlimited. The only way to close the loophole was by legislation This the court had no power to do- The judgment of the lower court (riven on this contention would therefore have to be sustained‘ HAMILTON, July 11. A bankrupt Chinese fruiterer (Ah Moon) was charged with contracting three dehts amounting to £l2B 15s Id without having any reasonable expectation of being able to nay them. The magistrate said accused was" guilty of reckless trading, and even his fellow-countrymen condemned his actions. He was sentenced to one month, without hard labour. , WELLINGTON, July 11. In the Police Court, Fong Low was fined £4O Wing On £25. Gong Wah £25, and Wee Kee Fan £25 for allowing their premises to be used as common gaming houses. Seweral Europeans and Chinese who were found on the premises were fined £2 each. CHRISTCH UECII, July 11. The waterside workers did not respond at Lyttelton this morning to a call to unload bulk sulphur from the Comenc, from Galveston, demanding 3s 6d an hour instead of 2s 7id the award rate. Later the Kinsey Company agreed to pay 3s, and the work began.