HOTEL EMPLOYES' AWARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12664, 18 January 1912, Page 5

HOTEL EMPLOYES' AWARD.

A breach of the Hotel Employes' award, committed by Mr F. Harris, by not paying the rate of wages to the chief cook as required by the agreement was the subject of a civil action at the Magistrate's Court to-day, the Inspector of Factories' claiming £3 penalty for the breach. Mr F. W. Nolan, who .appeared for defendant, pleaded guilty, anq said the agreement spoke of itself as an award, but it was not made an award by the Arbitration Court. However he was not setting that up as a defence. The agreement purports to bind all the hotel-keep-ers m the Counties of Cook, Waiapu and Waikohu, but as a matter of fact was only binding on those who had signed the " agreement, defendant being one of the latter. Continuing, Mr Nolan explained that Mr Harris had two men m the kitchen with the head cook, and also a general hand. There was a provision m the agreement empowering a court to deal with matters not appearing m the award. The chief cook was employed by Mr Harris dining July ajid August. In September the Court was set up to decide whether he was entitled to bo paid the rates for having two or three, assistants. The Court held that the general hand was a kitchen hand, and therefore was entitled to be paid the rate for three assistants. There had only been a technical breach and he asked that |a nominal penalty be inflicted. „ Mr Westbrooke said .the agreement was a. registered one and came into force m July last. On July 10 the chief cook asked defendant for another £1 as he considered he was entitled to it for having three assistants. Defendant then decided to run the kitchen with two assistants'; the second cook to have some assistance frofti the general hand. 1 Hip Worship; #aid; he did not think it a : case fctikt! called for the maximum penalty,' ami -gave judgment for £2.