WITHHOLDING WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 46, 19 March 1909, Page 2

WITHHOLDING WAGES.

TUii XEW' AIiJJITIiATIOX AUT. THE .MEN'S UUJECTIUX. 3y Telegraph.—l'resa Association, Cliristehureh, Last Xiglll. The Premier was interviewed by deputations 011 matters of public importance. -Mr. T. Taylor, M.l'., introduced a deputation of slfluylllernieii (if flic ( nrKl-

church Meat Company's Islington works, who stated that tin; company hud been asked by the Labor Department lo wallhold payment of wages due to several of the men until the Amounts owing by them in respect of lines imposed uu tiieni in connection with the strike in the slaughtering trade two or three years ago had been paid. Since the issue of the notice to the company, the Department found out that it had made an error, and now asked that only the amount over and above X.2, pev week due to the men should bo deducted in satisfaction of unpaid lines. -Mr. Taylor added that the men only started work two or three weeks smcc the commencement of the slack season last JSeptember, and had practically earned notning, whilst they had run up bills with tradesmen. They were willing to pay one-quarter of the amount owing oa the lines every fortnight until the tines we"i wiped out. He considered the Depart meat's proceedings were abrupt ami se vere. He questioned, whether the De partiuent had any right to make tn< t provisions of last year's amendment o I the Arbitration Act apply retrospective i ly in respect of the collection of the* I fines.

Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, stated that lie did not tilink the (Jovernnicnt would entertain the suggestion that penalties imposed by the Court should be remitted. If such a course were taken in respect of the penalties imposed on the workers, then the employers would have an equal right to similar treatment. II that were done, it would mean the pre liminary steps to the abolition of tin law. lie saw no reason why in the prf sent instance the men should not be allowed to pay ill easy stages. Tie Government were far from being desir

ous to deduct from the 11h 1 1i.s wage amounts that would inconvenience th«n ov tlicii' families, lie would lie preparei to recommend the Labor Department to accept one-fourth of each amount due every pay-day until tlie whole of the ari rear's were wiped out. He would telegraph tile Minister and ask him to accept payment in four instalments. A member of the deputation said lie did not believe in the company deducting the amount from wages. It was breaking away from the Truck Act, They wished to pay the money direct 'to the Labor Department themselves. Sir Joseph said he would include a suggestion to the effect mentioned in his telegram to the Minister. Regarding Mr. Taylor's point as to tlie retrospective action 'of last year's amendment of the Act, lie said lie was advised that sucn retrospective action was right, and that the provision made in the Act for tlie collection of fines had been intended to act retrospectively, inasmuch as the 1 provision mentioned took the place of the provision tinder the previous Act imposing imprisonment. The provision m the new Act wis not, properly speak } iug, retrospective.