WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2137, 12 March 1908, Page 2

WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

EAIPLOYERS’ LIABILITY ACTION -

Press Association. WELLINGTON. March 11. At the Magistrate’s Court to-dav, Mr. W. G. Ridedll, S.M., delivered .judgment in the case'Of Aldridge v. Hurn and Beveridge.' The Inspector of Factories charged the defendants who are licensees of the Grand Hotel, with having failed to give three wai- ' ters a half-holiday during the week ending January 25tli. The three waiters were allowed a half-holiday in the week in question (race week),' but owing to the hotel being full, and' their assistance therefore being required, they were told by . the head waiter that if they cared to return and work during the evening dinner hours each would he paid 5s extra, tins beiug the award rate for casual labor for a dinner. No compulsion was used towards the men, and two of them returned and worked from 6 to 8 p.m., and then went off again. The other did not return. Dir. Riddell said that section 20 of the Act of 190 f and the amending clause (section 3) of the Act of 1907 wore specific on the point that every hotel assistant must get a half-holiday and must take it. There was no provision in any Act empowering either employer or employee to enter into a contract outside of the "Act, and therefore neither could do so. An offence had been committed by the defendants, but the employees were equally to blame in entering into the agreement. Defendants would be convicted, and ordered to pay Court costs (7s):

Mr. Levy, who anoeared for dedefendants, asked that security for appeal bo fixed in case his clients should desire to test His Worship’s ruling. Security was fixed at £lO 10s.