INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 839, 10 June 1910, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS.

CARPENTERS' AWARD BROKEN. The Inspector of Awards proceeded against Stephen Strand, builder, Lower Hutt, for a breach of tho carpenters' and joiners' award in that he had employed a carpenter named Geo.- Ayson from September to December last, and had failed to pny him his wages "weekly. Defendant admitted having employed the carpenter to remove four houses at the Hutt, and said that the man was paid tho full amount of wages at tho end of the job. His Worship remarked that it was very necessary for honest conduct in regard to workmen that the law in reference to tho weekly payment of wages should be adhered to. There was nothing which led to greater, distress than tho non-pay-ment of wages regularly. Tho only question which the Court had to face was what the flue would be. He thought, however, that a fino of £1 would meet the case. ___ j TULORS' UNION: INTERESTING CASE. ■ Tho Wellington Industrial Tailors' Union claimed £1 Gs. (id. from, J. S. Ennis, tailor, being 12 months' subscription to the union, and fines in arrears from July, 1908, to June, 1907. Mr. Hindmarsh pointed out that defendant had left Wellington and gouo into the country district as an employer, lie was 3s. 9d. in arrcar when he left Wellington, and as ho had not severed his connection with the union ho was charged with his 12 months' subscription. Jfo subsequently gave up his business as an employer and rejoined the union.

For tho defence it was fitatud that defendant left Wellington in August, 1907,, on which" date lie owed tho union 3s. 6(1. This amount ho paid, and having done so, he considered ho had discharged tho whole of his liability to the union. He left Wellington to commence business as a master tailor" and ho urged that when n worker became an employer, the principles of tho Conciliation and Arbitration Court made it impossible for him to he a member of n workers' union. When he left Wellington, it was urged, ho ceased to be a worker and could only exorcise any rights under tlio Act as an employer ur a member of an employers, association. Automatically, it was contended, defendant ceased to bo a member of the union and subsequently defendant ceased to bo an employer and rejoined the "Union of Employees afresh. His Worship did not think that there was any automatic cessation of liability to pay a subscription as suggested. Judgment would bo for plaintiff for tho amonnt claimed and costs 6s. Mr. Hindmarsh appeared for plaintiff aud Mr. licrdman for defendant.