WAGES DISPUTE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1820, 30 April 1918, Page 2

WAGES DISPUTE.

INTERPRETATION OF AN AGREEMENT. CASE ADJOURNED. At Friday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, John Hannah proceeded against William Nye, llaxiniller, to recover the sum of £1 8s lOd, alleged to be due for wages short paid between December -Ith, 1917, and January 4th, 1918. Mr Richmond appeared for plaintiff, and defendant was represented by Mr Cooper. In opening the case, Mr Richmond said that plaintiff was employed by defendant as a driver at the rate of £3 18s per week. On December 4th, 1917, the Flaxmillors’ Association, of which defendant is a member, and the Flaxmills Employees’ Union entered into an agreement whereby the rate of pay to certain employees was to l)e increased in such a way that all employees who prior to that date were receiving not more than 13s per day of eight hours should in future receive Is 9d per hour, equal to 14s for an eight hour day. The interpretation of this agreement eventually became the subject of a dispute between the Association and the Union, and it was agreed to refer same to an arbitrator on the ppint as to whether or not drivers were included in its operation. The report of the arbitrator (produced and put in as evidence) stated, inter alia, as follows; “I am of opinion that the agreement applies to all workers, including drivers, who were on December 4th, 1917, receiving wages of 13s or less per day of eight hours, and therefore drivers are entitled to Is 9d per hour for all time actually worked, other than necessary attendance to horses.” Continuing, Mr Richmond said that the statement of claim put in by plaintiff was not correct, and would have to be amended by reducing same from £1 8s lOd to 14s 7d. The Magistrate said the statement of claim was not at all clear. The Court was entitled to have a proper statement of claim, and this should be hied before the case was proceeded with. Mr Richmond said that the first statement of claim was put in by plaintiff himself. lie was quite prepared to submit an amended one that would be quite clear. It was finally decided to adjourn the case to Palmerston North on the 7th proximo, in order that a clear statement of claim could be filed.