BOOT TRADE APPRENTICES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12097, 15 March 1910, Page 3

BOOT TRADE APPRENTICES.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. An important point concerning apprentices m the boot trade-- was discussed before the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr Justice Sim presided, and with him were Messrs M'Cullough (workers' re. presoptative) and Scott (employers' representative). Walter Newton," Inspector of Awards, claimed to recover from R. Hannah aiid Co., LtU.,. the ■simV of ' £10 as a penalty for a breach of the New Zealand Federated Boot Trade award re female operatives. "!(/' was alleged that tho defendant company, on the 12th January, 1910,. dispensed with the services of a female apprentice, Florence . Lebhery, employed by defendants under the award, and did not procure her another employer • carrying on business within a reasonable distance of the original employers'' (defendants') , place of business. Tliere was a second charge against the defendant company of having discharged the feaid apprentice without sending notice of such, with the reason included, to the Inspector of Factories. Mr D. M. Findlay appeared for the Inspector of Awards, and Mr C. P. ( Skerrett, K.C., with him Mr Stout, for the defendant company. In opening the ease, Mr Finding ."said that the object of the case was no.t' to obtain cumulative penalties, but to ascertain .whether or not a breach had occurred. Counsel recited the text of the notice of dismissal given ou 16th December. The employ, nient was to terminate on the 23rd Deiecmbor at 5 p.m. On the Monday following the factory would re-open, when the apprentices might obtain employment again. Notice was apparently given to all the apprentices m the factory. Some of these wanted a lengthen. \ed holiday at Christmas and New Year, and apparently it was the intention of the- firm to avoid paying .for the holidays. • The girls were all apprentices under the award, and under the award ' they were entitled to payment for their holidays. He submitted that defendants' action was an attempt to take advantage of clause j. Some of the apprentices did not desire the lengthened holiday, but all were dismissed. Counsel, m a lengthy traverse of the award relating tp apprentices, submitted tliat the employer employing any Worker as an apprentice was' boiwid by all the- provisions of the award relating thereto; He contended, further, that the effect of the award was to do away, with classes of ' apprentices, and to place all such workers on the same footing with tho same rights, and to niake . a ■ contract for the parties. The employer was therefore responsible to treat as apprentice.-- all workers who wero not journeymen or under-rate workers. The employer had, continued counsel, given the construction lie uwkbd for to the award by treating the worker m question as an apprentice under clause 14 of the award. Evidence having been given, Mr Skerrett" contended, m a lengthy reference to the award as affecting apprentices, that there j were two classes of apprentices indentured, apprentices who engaged for bye yeai*s and were to be taught the trade, and (juasirapprentices, who could be dismissed at 24 hours' notice. Those concerned m the present case were of the latter chi»s, and the defendant .company had a right to dismiss them as it chose. Clause j was not applicable to the present case. „..."'■' Charles John Ward, factory manager at Hannah and Co.'s, stated that all the "V"-girls were paid m excess of the award i-ate. lii no -dnstanco was a girl taken on with- the understanding that she should bh taught the trade. It had been tho practice- before and.. si nee the award lo terminate this class of contract at 24 hours' notice. Tliat applied to other factories. This practico had continued on the part of the girls wiice tho new award. Hannah and Co. had no indentured apprentices. Witness did not see the holiday list that was circulated m the factory. ' _ ' -* Counsel for plaintiff agreed tliat tlie second count could stand oyer till judgment was given on the ' first information. ;-■ ■ The Court reserved, judgment.