"MEDDLING AGITATOR."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 618, 22 September 1909, Page 4

"MEDDLING AGITATOR."

STRONG REMARKS BY A MAGISTRATE'. : . . AN/AUCKLAND ..CASE. . <Bs TclcEraph-BDcclai Correspondent.) ' Auckland, September 21.The agitator come in for a sovevo verbal castigation from Mr. C, C. Kettle, S.M., in delivering, a judgment to-doy.. The case .was that of tho. Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Union against John Morrison, licousco of the Metropolitan 'Hotel. ■ This was a proceeding under tho Arbitration Act, 1008, to recover from respondent three 6uids of Jo.each as n penalty for tho alleged breach of an industrial agreement, in respect of bis.failure, to pay overtime wages to hotel employees who End worked longei , than Uio proscribed 65 hours per week. .••.'■■ ~ ■■.•.■••■■ • .. Tho complainants alleged that between August 7 and 13, Mr. Morrison employed three housemaids,' and required them to work overtime, and thon failed, or neglected, or rofusod to pay them' wages for the extra work, Some titue m July, last two. girjs wero in the employ ot .the respondent, and thoy mado some 6ort ot complaint to tho union with regard to their hours. -.Tho result of their comiilaint was that the secretary of tho union wrote to respondent, informing him of tho fact that a complaint h™ been made. These girls left the service or Morrison, and three girls wero employed in Incu - places. After they wcro emplored the secretary of the union (Mr. T. Long), unknown to respondent, arranged that tho three girls should keep their time, in order that a prosecution might bo instituted if the honre should prove to bo longer than thoso provided for in the agreement. ; • Theevidenco of these girls, Mr. Kettle said, was that tW kept a record of their time from August 7 to 13. This record was not produced, and in its place was produced a copy made, by another person, who-did not give ?™ on "- ,; Th»'girls did not- teU Mrs. : Morrison tnat they: were' working, overtime, : and- did uk u i1 r cst F a - Payment at any .time, although .they-; signed the -wages book , ■ evory , week, including the week in respoct of which tins special record was , kept. The onus rested on complainants to show that the 'extra hours' wore, worked, and his Worship was- inclined tp-.the opinion that they must show' that tho "Tortime 'was. worked/with, tho .knowledge .and .consent of tho employer, and ! that some de- ; maml for payment must bo ma'do before pro.ceedings .could be .taken.: Ho was not impressed tho manner in which" the foundations of, this prosecution wero laid by the secretary., of .the union. - '■: .;■.''...' ; Ihe labourer is worthy -of his hiro; unity J»,strenßth,'\.said ; Mr. Kettle; "and workers are entitled .to safeguard and maintain 'their rißhts J -by-,nll. Jan and-legitimate means, but tho meddling,. ;mischief-making agitator, who,throngh excess of - : zeal or under a mistaken ■sense of duty,.foments.discontent among workers, andentourages a, spirit.of hostility' and antagonism towards employers, instead of cultivatmg and ..promoting;a- conciliatory.- spirit and good feeling'between employer's and employees, is an .enemy . of. the ■'• employers; a Kreater enemy of tho-employees,- and a curse to tho community."' .' , 'i •■'■' '",.":•. i.'; Jpdgmmt iras given'. for .respondent in each I case : ho: costs, Avcro nllowedi -oa the ground I tnat .respondent had not kept a wages book.'