PETROL DRIVERS' AWARD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 160, 24 July 1937, Page 6

PETROL DRIVERS' AWARD

-Presa Association.)

Overtime Must Be Paid arbitration court decision

(By Telegraph-

CHRISTCHURCH. Last Night. The decision of the Arbitration Court on claims for penalties for alleged breaches of the Northern Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago and Southland Motor and Horse Drivers' Award, which were brought by the Labour Departnfent in . Christchurch against the Vacuum Oil Company Proprietary Ltd., was issued to-day. Ihe claims were for alleged failure to pay overtime when men were worked for 44 hours in a week. and for alleged failure to pay overtime for work done during meal hours, but, as the judgment says, they amounted to an application for the interpretation of the award. The Court dismissed the claim based on alleged failure to pay overtime for work done during meal hours, holding that the company had infringed the award in failing to pay overtime when the men were wqrked for 44 hours in a week, but imposed ?no penalty on the grounds that the breach was not delibexate and that the proceedings were for an interpretation of the award. The case was heard in Christchurch on July 3 before Mr Justice O'Regan in association with Messrs W. Cecil Prime (employers' representative), and Mr A. L. Monteith (employees' representative). It followed the strike oi petrol lorry drivers in Auckland, and the decision bears on the question raised during the strike. Mr R. T. Bailey represented the Labour Department and Mr W. J. Mcuntjoy appeared for the defendaut ccmpany.