NOT ALLOWED TO PAY LESS THAN AWARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 449, 3 September 1928, Page 13

NOT ALLOWED TO PAY LESS THAN AWARD

TIMBER FIRM FINED HARD ON POOR MAN “It seems a pity that a man financially embarrassed cannot obtain employment because a firm is not allowed to pay him less than the award rate,” said Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court this morning. The Magistrate’s comment was the result of a case in which Mr. J. Hollows, inspector of awards, proceeded against Cashmore Brothers, timber erchants, for paying less than the award rate of wages. For defendants, Mr. Lovegrove admitted the breach, stating in extenuation that the workman in question had been kept on by the firm out of consideration for his financial position. He was a relative of the principals of the firm and had been employed through the hard times experienced by all timber merchants, making a refund from his wages each week, receiving £3 instead of the award rate. A. cleanbreast had been made of the affair and all accrued wages paid off. Mr. Hollows reminded the Court that this was the fourth time defendants had been called upon to pay arrears of wages. In imposing a penalty of £4, the Magistrate said that he had taken into consideration the fact that all arrears had been paid up.