WAGES CLAIM.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 386, 18 March 1937, Page 2

WAGES CLAIM.

Sunday Work for Miners. Press Association—Copyright. Greymouth, March 17. An unprecedented mining wages claim of considerable interest in vhich the Rimu Flat Gold Dredging Company was the defendant, represented by Mr. H. F. O’Leary, K.C., Wellington, was heard in the Warden’s Court at Hokitika to-day by Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M. Charles McLean, bredge employee, represented by Mr. P. J. O’Regaiu Wellington, claimed £94 13s.', allegedly due as wages for Sunday work over a period of six. years.

McLean claimed that, under section 266 of the Mining Act, he was entitled to time and a half for Sundays. The case was a test one, for 36 other employers are in a similar position. “We did know till the recent conciliation proceedings that vs'ere entitled to time and a half on Sundays,” said Mr. O’Regan. Mr. O’Leary called the evidence of W. J. Radford, general manager of (he company, who claimed that work in the 14 days to March 31, 1934, was paid for at a higher Tate, thus compensating the Sundays and that £2O a month that had been paid since included the Sundays computation. Mr. Ferner reserved his decision.