CLAIM FOR WAGES

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 500, 27 January 1920, Page 1

CLAIM FOR WAGES

PLOUGHMAN SUCCEEDS. A dispute over the amount of wages per day that should have been received by Alfred Crosby, from Messrs. Frost Bros, at Tuakau, resulted in litigatkn at the Magistrate's Court on Thursday, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., when the plaintiff, Alfred Crosby, proceeded to recover from defendants £2 17s Cd. balance of wages due ait the rate of 2s -per day deducted by defendants from November 1 to December 6. Plaintiff, who termed himself as a labourer, said he commenced to work for defendants on September 5 in front of a plough, at the rate of 12s per day. Subsequently he was engaged in a scrub-cutting contract for defendants, and when the contract was nearing completion, he was informed that defendant's ploughman had left. Witness put in a "word" for the job, and after a couple of day's deliberations, the Frost Bros, agreed to take him on as their permanent ploughman. In plaintiff's own words, "Arthur Frost came and took me away from the scrub-cut-ting contract at seven o'clock one morning, and told me to get the horses in and do some ploughing." Witness said he did so. Nothing was mentioned regarding wages, and witness said he was under the impression he was to receive 12s per day, as he was paid 12s a day when he was first taken on. When he was paid up he received only 10s a day, but told defendant he wanted 12s a day.

Evidence was giveit by Edward T. Frost, who stated plaintiff was absolutely incompetent as a ploughman. Ten shillings a day more than adequately paid him for what work he did.

Arthur Frost, who made the arrangements with plaintiff, said he was taken on at £3 per week, as It was a permanent job. It was made quite clear that he was to be paid £3 a week. He was not a competent man.

In answer to a question, witness said Crosby's reason for leaving was because he had another job. Two days before plaintiff left witness asked him to stay on.

His Worship said if a mark was worth 12s a day he would grant it to him. He had ivery reason to believe plaintiff was worth 12s per day. Defendants had asked him to stay on when he was leaving to take up another appointment. He had heard numbers of similar cases, and did not travel around the country, not knowing what wages men were receiving. The evidence would have to be very strong to make him believe that a man was working at less than 12s a day at the present time. In this case the evidence was not, and he. had every reason to believe plaintiff was worth 12s a day. Judgment was for plaintiff for the amount claimed, together with coats.

Mr. Percy Basley appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. H. G. R. Mason for defendants.