Illegal Tb Employ Boys After School

Chronicle (Levin), 22 September 1949, Page 5

Illegal Tb Employ Boys After School

Press Association )

(Per

WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. A bov who delivers groceries to a back door after seliool hours? is perforniing a service ,to tKe community wliieh is not couaitenaneed in the eyes of the law. Thw fact was brqught to light in the Arbitrat'ion Court today . when the inclusion of a provision for . casual boy labour the New Zealand I (except Northern industrial district other than Gisborne judicial district) retail grocers' assistants' and drivers', award was being argued by the parties in the di.spute. ' ' The einployment of casual boy labour by either einployer or employce, is not allowed and" employers are not perniitfed to have the assigtance qf casual boy labour at any time, ' ' states a claim by the applieant union. It did seem to be fair comment that if eiuplovers were prepared to offpr higher rates for casual boy labour, that a regular junior was entitled to further eon side'ration, said the union 's advocate, Mr. P. M. Yelvin. Ile added that the union objected strongly to the inclusion in the award of any provision establishing casual boy labour in the industry. "There is not a person m New Zealand today who cannot get 'household deliveries fTom a grocer," said Mr. R. M. Barker who appe^red on behalf of the Southland, Otago, Nelson, Welling-' ton and Taranaki Master Grocers' Industrial Union. However, there had been a shortage of staff and the organisation he represented had turned to the employment of boys to maintain this service to the community. The object of the employeiV proposal for the employment of casual boy labour for not more than 16 hours per week at the rate of 22s 6d, was to validate the illegal praetiee which was followecl to enable the requirements of the Government for the delivery of goods to be carried out, said Mr." Barker. His organisation was only asking for this provision to get over competition from other trades which wTere able to entiqe labour through higher pay and arnenities. His Honour, Mr. Justice Tyndall: Not under an award. Mr. Barker: No. It i§ honoured more in the breaeh than the observanee to- , day. His Honour: But vou don't expect us to join in the pastime.