ARBITRATION COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 9

ARBITRATION COURT.

, APPEAL BY APPRENTICE. INEFFICIENCY ALLEGED. (Per United Pbesb Association.) AUCKLAND, May T. A carpenter’s apprentive, Alfred Stanley Martin, appealed to the Arbitration Court against his dismissal by his employers (Messrs Adams and, Hine). “I was the only Christian on the job,” he said, “and it was hard to get on with the ethers. These men have a good opinion of me, but I have too good an opinion of Christianity to turn it down.” t The secretary of the Builders’ Association, in opposing the appeal, said the appellant had given dissatisfaction because of his inefficiency on scaffolding work and his frequent absences from work. At Christmas, Martin took an extra week’s holiday and was dismissed. The appellant said he could not walk' on scaffolding because he was nervous. He denied that he had told the police that liis employer had told another boy to swear at him. In giving liis decision, Mr Justice Frazer said, though there was a suggestion of priggishness' in Martin’s° behaviour, the employer was probably not one to be sympathetic with the lad. It would be useless to send Martin back, as his life would no doubt be made a living hell by the others on the job. The case was adjourned for three months, and in the meantime the registrar of apprentices would be appea’ed to for a transfer of Martin to a suitable firm.