NOMINAL PENALTY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 104, 19 May 1937, Page 5

NOMINAL PENALTY

Failure To Keep Proper Wages and Overtime Book "This woman necupied a private hotel at Havelock Ncrth, employed four persons and failed * to keep proper wages and overtime books and had employed them on a half-.nclidav and not paid overtime. Arrangements had been made, however, for the amoants ii>volvcd to he paid to the dopartnieut for disbursement to the employees," said Mr. E. A. Wood, Inspector of Awards, at the Hastings Magistrate 'a Court this morning when Miss M, Bain, manageress, appeared before Mr, J. Miller, S.M., on eliarges of (1) omploying four persons on the half-day without giving notice; (2) failing to pay overtime rates; and (3) failing tb keep wages and overtime books. A plea of guilty was entered by Mr. H. H. Holderness, who said that until recently the particular premises had not come within the scope of an award. The proprietress left about the middle of last year for England and.arranged for Miss Bain, who was in Vancouver, to take over the management. Miss Bain arrived in November and proceeded to conduct the business as she had been' aceustomed to doing in CanadaJ and previously in New Zealand. "Unfortunately she arrived at what might be termed the 'interim period ' in regard to the industrial legis* lation and the formation of an award," said counsel, "and in' consequence eha was not aware of the new conditions." He added that a weekly summary of the wages was kept, though it did, not conforin with the legal requirements. His Worship imposed a fine of 10/h on one charge and costs 10/- on each of the other two charges. \ On a civil elaim for the £10 damagea for a breach of the award, 10/- costs only was awarded.