HARRASSING LABOR LAWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 480, 10 June 1919, Page 1 (Supplement)

HARRASSING LABOR LAWS

Magisterial Strictures. At the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court on Thursday, J. Hollows, Inspector of Awards for the Labour Department, proceeded against Charles Clarke, licensee of the Pukekohe Hotel, for the sum of £lO as a penalty for a breach oj the Northern District (except Auckland) Licensed Hotel Employees' Award. The particulars of the broach were stated to be that the defendant, on or about April 23rd, 1919, engaged one Fred Gardiner, through a servants' registry office and failed to make application to the secretary of the Hotel Workers' Union, Auckland, to supply him with a worker. Plaintiff said that when he questioned defendant about the matter he admitted engaging the man through a registry office at Auckland. He said he wanted a man for the farm, but when he was in the office the attendant said she had a barman porter, and defendant said to send him along. The man was a unionist. Their argument was that if a man w-as a unionist, and he was engaged through a private registry office, a fee had to be paid. The defendant said he agreed to take the man, engaged him, and told him to report to the Union that he had obtained a billet. " The man started work and was there for about five days, and happened to be too swift for me, and I sacked him," said defennant. Defendant said he paid the necessary fees for getting the man, who was not out of pocket. Mr Hallows : Not until I spoke to you about the matter.

Defendant: You asked me if I would agree to pay the fees, and I agreed and paid them. The Magistrate; Were the fees paid before you received the summons ? Defendant: Yes.

The Magistrate : It 9eems to me that there is no offence. Supposing Tom Jones was out of work, and he was an excellent tradesman, and he came to me and said he wanted a job and I agreed to take him, would I have to go to the secretary of the Hotel Workers' Union and say I wanted a man and for him to give me a man not as capable as Tom Jones ?

Mr Hollows : That's the Award, and we have to act up to it.

The Magistrate said he could not see it, and, in his opinion, it was a very bad award. Mr Hollows : Well, Your Worship, it will be the first case of the kind I have failed in. They always pitch the same story

Very well, try another magistrate," said Mr Hunt.

" 1 do not consider it an offence going to a private registry office for a suitable man." Judgment was given for defendant. Mr Hollows : Can I have leave to appeal. The Magistrate : No, as a matter of fact you can't appeal for an amount under £2O.

portance to this district, and better local interest may be taken in them.

The matter of using pollard when poisoning for rabbits is almost sure to cause destruction of pheasants— the Farmers' Union has been asked to endeavour to have " Toxo " more generally used.

An effort to secure brown as well as rainbow trout is to be made this year —several streams here and near Bombay would be more suitable for this trout. The matter of having a suitable area to be proclaimed as a sanctuary should receive attention before next season— a radius of a mile from the Post Office should be suitable