EVASION OF AWARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22833, 18 March 1936, Page 8

EVASION OF AWARD

DEDUCTION MADE FROM WAGES EMPLOYER HEAVILY FINED (Per United Press Association) PALMERSTON N„ March 17. Action was taken by the Department of Labour in the Magistrate’s Court today against Allan George Farland, a butcher, claiming £IOO on two counts for alleged failure to comply with the conditions of employment as prescribed by the butchers’ award. The first count alleged that Farland had taken proceedings with intent to defeat the provisions of the award, and the second alleged that he had failed to pay the minimum rate of wages. A penalty of £SO was sought on each count.

Mr W. H. Cadwalluder, outlining the cause of the action, stated that Farlaud, taking advantage of the recent economic conditions, had compelled employees to work for less than the. minimum rate of wages. The method adopted was that Farland compelled the employees upon pain of losing their positions to return to him each week a portion of their wages after signing the wages book for the amount they were entitled to receive.

The magistrate, giving judgment, stated that the compelling of the -employees to pay portion of their wages back was a subterfuge. The statement that the deductions were for meat supplied was only another trick to mislead the court. It was a serious breach, and the evidence showed that Farland had gone out of his way to make' an arrangement by which the employees would not get the award wages. On the second count he would be fined £SO. In regard to the first count, the magistrate said be was not satisfied that what Farland did came within the provisions of the section. This charge Would be dismissed.