APPRENTICESHIP CONTRACTS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1931, Page 2

APPRENTICESHIP CONTRACTS

BOVS GIVEN DAMAGES

AUCKLAND, April 7

“There is no doubt that these boys are in difficulties, and it is possible they will have to give up th<ij- line of busmens,” said Mr K. (’. Cutter, S.M.. in the Magistrate's Court, in giving judgment for plaintiffs in a case in which three apprentices of the printing trade proceeded against the “Sun” Newspapers, Limited, for £3OO damages each for alleged wrongful dismissal. The three plaintiffs. Francis John Jalfon, aged 18, Alexander Stock well, aged 18, and William Ernest Stanley Halford, aged 19, were represented by Mr J. J. Sullivan, and the defendant company by Mr F. H. Northcroft.

In reviewing the evidence the Magistrate said plaint,iffis were apprenticed to the defendant comonny for six years. Damages were claimed because at the time they were thrown out of emplovment throueh the sale of the Auckland “Sun” two of the bovs had served only .three years each, while the third boy bad Revved three years and nine months. Their training also censed. The Magistrate "aid the defending company bad broken its contracts with plaintiffs, who were certainly entitled to Rome damages, Tt was most unfortunate that owin'? to the present depression the bovs bad been unable to obtain other .emplovment in t'.-d,. trade, This was a responsibility which would have to be borne by the defendant comnnnv. Plaintiffs would be awarded £IOO. which Rum would falrlv meet th« rns<\ ns it would civ-" the bovs onportuniti"o +r > look around and tldo d.-irn over their period of unemnloymenf.

Plaintiffs wore also awarded £8 18s 8d costs each.