ENTITLED TO WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 301, 19 December 1931, Page 1

ENTITLED TO WAGES.

Assistants in the Boot Industry. CLOSING DOWN PERIOD. Assistants in the boot industry are entitled to wages during the time 'in which the factories are closed down for the holiday period. This ruling was given by the Arbitration Court in an interpretation released to-day by Mr Justice Frazer in the case of the Northern, Taranaki, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland Boot Operatives Award. The judgment stated that the failure to give a certificate of time served did not in itself invalidate the dismissal of an assistant though it might constitute a breach of the award. The omission, however, might be evidence that in a particular case the dismissal might not have been a dismissal in the true sense, but rather a mere suspension for a limited period. The practice in past years was to close factories for about ten days at the holiday period and pay assistants for time lost. The factories were closed in the 1930-31 period for three to five weeks and no wages were paid to assistants. The circumstances of the application made it appear that the actual position was that owing to slackness of trade the factories were closed down and the assistants given an extended holiday without pay. There was no intention to dispense with their services and no formal re-engagement when the factories re-opened. The Court was of the opinion that in the circumstances the assistants were entitled to be paid wages during the period the factories were closed. However, it was not desired that it be understood that the award did or would . prohibit; the definite dismissal and sub- ] sequent re-engagement of an assistant. What was necessary to satisfy the < Court of the completeness of the dis- < missal in any particular case could be i decided if and when the necessity arose. ;