JUDGMENT AGAINST UNION

Southland Times, Issue 23407, 14 January 1938, Page 4

JUDGMENT AGAINST UNION

CLAIM FOR WAGES FOR CORONATION DAY (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 13. “It is not usual to award costs in these cases, but I propose to do so in this instance,” said Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., in giving judgment in a case in which the Wellington Coachworkers’ Union sued the Ford Motor Company (New Zealand) for wages which the union considered should have been paid for Coronation Day. “The proceedings were begun without notice to defendant nearly six months after the alleged breach and are devoid not only of legal merit, but of any merit at all.” In his judgment the Magistrate said the award specifically differentiated between hourly workers and workers paid on a weekly basis. Workers employed at an hourly rate were entitled to be paid for each hour or part of an hour they worked. The unit of working time was an hour. The words “shall be paid in full weekly” did no more than fix the interval of time between each pay day. . “Industrialists and their workers forwent their right to earn profits and wages respectively on Coronation Day because it was a rare event of national importance and of special significance to every subject of the British Comwealth,” he said. “Judgment for defendant with costs as on a defended claim for £lO, together with the usual court fees and witness’s expenses, will be given.”