BREACH OF AWARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22064, 10 September 1941, Page 8

BREACH OF AWARD

Company Fined £5

DRIVERS’ LONG HOURS The Inspector of Factories (Mr R. J. Weir) proceeded against the Geraldine Transport Company for a breach of the award Involving the working of two drivers without allowing them 24 consecutive hours off in each of two weeks. The company, which was represented by Mr G. Walker, pleaded guilty and was fined £5 by Mr H. Morgan, S.M.. in the ■ Temuka Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Mr Weir said that one driver had worked 88 and 80 hours respectively in two weeks and the other 85 and 8.1 hours. Sunday work was permissible as long as 24 consecutive hours were allowed off in the week. There was no question of the Company not having paid due overtime. There were difficulties in coping with the wor' of trucking lambs for the freezing works and carting grain during the same period, and a conference had been recently held between the Union and transport licensees, but no satisfactory solution could be found. Mr Walker said that three former employees were , now overseas and there was difficulty in getting competent drivers. A conference had been held in Christchurch and the licensing authority had asked transport licensees to speed up, as a war effort, the carting of grain. The men concerned had been willing to do the work and had earned from £2l to £25 in a fortnight. The Company had been solicitous for the care of its employees who had time for morning and afternoon tea. The manager of the Pareora Freezing Works (Mr W. S. Minehan) said that there was "no train service suitable on Mondays to allow killing to be commenced at 7.35 a.m. It was necessary to have stock brought by lorry on Sundays so that operations could commence at the appointed time.

To Mr Weir: We have not asked the railway for a suitable service for that district, but we did so for Fairlie without satisfactory results. Owing to the large amount of traffic stock get knocked about on the road.

The Magistrate: I have seen droves of them on the road on Sundays. Mr Minehan: That may be true but they are only short drives. Mr W. C. Crotty, manager of the company, said that last season had been exceptionally • heavy as it had been ideal for header-harvesters. Most farmers required the grain to be shifted at the same time. In rddition he had carted 30,000 lambs for one farmer who usually sent them up north. He employed between nine and 10 drivers and only four of them were competent to truck lambs. He had tried one employee out and he had taken 4J hours on a job which was done in 11 hours by a competent driver. In giving his decision the Magistrate said that if the company in helping the war effort was faced with

breaking the law, it should decide to obey the latter. Other Cases For having no effective silencer and no light on his motor-cycle, L. S. Patrick was fined £1 on each charge. S. W. Chisnall was fined 10/- for having no warrant of fitness. Mokai Reihana was fined 10/- for a breach of a prohibition order. On a judgment summons, Andrew Williams was ordered to pay M. C. Butterfield £2/5/11 on or before October 9, in default two days’ imprisonment. Judgment by default was given in the following civil cases: Gapper and Sheen v. J. Cain (balance) 16/1, State Advances Corporation v. F. Fifield (balance) £2/16/1. An application by S. Macale for possession of a dwelling occupied by A. Burgess was granted, possession to be given in a fortnight. Licensing Committee A notice filed by W. J. Quirk of intention to transfer the licence of the Arowhenua Hotel to J. A. Bayne was not proceeded with and was struck out by the Temuka District Licensing Committee which met yesterday. Mr H Morgan, S.M., presided.

BOBBY CALVES According to figures supplied by the secretary of the South Canterbury Calf Pool Committee (Mr F. J. Robertson), Monday’s collection of bobby calves numbered 293. The increase for the season compared with last year is 20. EUCHRE PARTIES A successful euchre party and dance in aid of Red Cross Funds was held recently in the Orton Hall. The euchre prizes were won by Mr and'Mrs Dwan. and consolation prizes by Mrs Johnstone and Mr Bolderston. Prize winners at the Waitea Rebekah Lodge’s euchre party were Mesdames H. Cain, 8. Cross Snd Messrs J. O'Connell and J. Popplewell. Mr J. Hunt won a competition. PERSONAL Mrs J. K. Young, who has been spending a holiday in Invercargill, has returned home. Mrs D. Manning. Epworth, has returned from Christchurch. Mrs D. Swaney, Ashburton, is visiting Temuka.