LAST POSITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1931, Page 5

LAST POSITIONS

' APPRENTICES OUT OF WORK. QUESTION OF CLAIMS FOR WAGES. Apprentices who lose their positions during the term of their indentures must do their best to obtain employment before they can proceed against their late employers for loss of wages. .This was made .clear by Mr. Justice Frazer in the Arbitration Court at Wellington on Thursday when three apprentices sought to recover three months’' wages from the liquidator of Rigg Bros., Ltd., painters and decorators, of Masterton. J. Corke, whoso apprenticeship dated from November 13, 1926, claimed £42 ss; V. J. .Stone, who was botasLon January 4, 1927, claimed £29 ss; and K. F. McKenzie, whose term started on November 5, 1928, also claimed £29 ss. Mr. F. Cornwell, secretary of th® Painters and Decorators’ Union, who appeared in support of the applications, said that the apprentices had been out of work since July 15 last, and it was hard on the lads. He did not consider that three months’ wages was sufficient compensation in such cases. Mr. Justice Frazer agreed with this view, but pointed out that the Act provided that apprentices who were thrown, out of work must do their utmost to obtain employment with another firm. If the Court were to grant the applications, and the boys did happen to find work, it would scarcely be fair to the liquidator of the estate. The Act laid down that three months must elapse before an apprentice could claim for loss of wages, consequently there was another month to go. If Mr. Cornwell were to supply the Court, with an affidavit proving that the lads had done their to obtain work and that the apprenticeship committee had done its part, and present this on October 15 next, the court would automatically grant the applications.