TIMARU BATHS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 8

TIMARU BATHS

ATTENDANTS NOT UNDER AWARD The question whether, under the Canterbury cleaners’, caretakers', and lift-attendants’ award made in May last year, workers in charge of baths operated by the Timaru Borough Council would be deemed “caretakers” was asked by the Inspector of Awards for Timaru of Mr J. A. Gilmour, S.M., acting as duly-appointed delegate of the Court of Arbitration. Mr J. Leckie, for the union, contended that the workers were covered by the award, Inasmuch as they act as agents for the Council, and are ialled upon to perform the ordinary duties of a caretaker. In support, it was stated that the workers were referred to as “caretakers," and attention was drawn to the following paragraph taken from a list supplied to the care-' taker of the Timaru Century Com memoration Baths:—“The caretaker shall, at all times, keep the building and enclosure and the bath clean and In good order, and shall do and execute all such small repairs as from time to time be necessary to keep the bath and enclosure in good order, and shall not permit any person to destroy, damage, or deface the bath or anything appertaining or belonging thereto, and shall also paint any of such parts of the woodwork of the bath or enclosure as may be directed, the Council supplying all materials and tools.”

The contention of Mr 1 H. J. Bishop, for the Council, was that the award applied only to caretakers who were employed in shop, office, factory, or warehouse buildings, buildings of residential flats, and buildings of a simllar type. Mr Gilmour stated in his interpretation of the award that the issue was complicated by Inferences that might be drawn from the combined districts’ award, but he was of the opinion that the membership rule of the union made it clear that the award applied only to caretakers employed in shop, office, factory, or warehouse buildings, buildings of residential flats, and buildings of a similar type. A swimming bath with its cubicles and dressing sheds, could not, he thdught, be regarded as coming within this category, and the question submitted must accordingly be answered in the negative.