IMPORTANT TO WORKING MEN.

Manawatu Herald, 19 August 1881, Page 2

IMPORTANT TO WORKING MEN.

♦- Upon taking his seat on the Bench on Wednesday morning, Mr Ward, 8.M., called the attention of working men, contractors, and others, to some important provisions contained in " The Contractors, Debts Acfc, 1871." He said he was led to this course by the fact that on last Court day several men sued their employer for wages due for work done on a contract. The law gave men the power of securing their money from the person for whom the contract was performed, and he drew public attention to the matter because he thought it desirable workmen should know that they could be protected. His Worship is entitled to the thanks of the community for drawing attention to this important Acfc, fche existence of which, we believe, is nofc generally known. Tho 'provisions of the Act are to the following effect : — Any workman suing a contractor for work aud labour done may apply to the Courfc afc the time of the hearing of the ca*e for a certificate of the cause of debt, and if the work done is part of a contract upon which moneys are or will become due, the plaintiff may obtain an order of the Courfc upon the person for whom the work is being done ; and thereupon the contractee must pay the workman, the Acfc declaring thafc " upon seivice as aforesaid all moneys due or to accrue due as aforesaid from the contractee to the con tractor to the amount specified iv the certificate shall be deemed to be effectually assigned by the contractor to the workman. " There is, however, a special provision that for labour done this law shall apply only to the amount of 60 days' wages, while it is nofc allowed to be given if the work was done upon a moveable " chattel " of such a description that it would be practicable for the workman to have a lien thereon by retaining it iv his possession. If the contractee fails to pay the workman may sue him in his own right for the amount of his claim. There is also provision that when a workman has taken out a summons against the contractor, he may serve a notice upon the contractee, who is then debarred from paying away the money in hand or accruing until the Court has decided the case/ but this notice cannot be served upon the contractee until permission to do ao has been given byt he Court. It is also provided that "A contractor who shall sublet any part of the work shall be responsible to the extent provided for by this Act for the wages of the workmen employed by a subcontractor, and a workman employed by a sub-contractor may proceed against the contractor as in this Act provided, as if he had been directly employed by him." The above are the principal provisions of this important Act. Working men should carefully study and bear in mind the outline we have given. By reference to the B. M. Court report in this issue, it will be seen the Act was put in operation last Wednesday with reference to a Local Board contract.