THE FACTORY ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 60, 29 July 1912, Page 6

THE FACTORY ACT.

ATTEMPT TO DECEIVE AN INSPECTOR. Auckland, July 25. "I propose to show that this time and wages book is a specially faked one," said Mr. Johns, Inspector of Awards, when prosecuting L. Mikolo, restaurant keeper, Auckland, 'before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M.. yesterday, for a breach of the Act, in that he failed to keep a wages and overtime book. The Inspector of Awards, in evidence, stated that he had called at the restaurant and asked to see the defendant's time and wages book. It had not been produced, but had been shown to him at a later date. He would call two employees to prove that the book had been purchased after his first visit, and entries put in before his second visit. It would be seen by reference to the book that a mistake had been made in its compilation, as tho employees in question were given the credit for having worked a week 'before their engagements commenced, while the last week of their employment had been forgotten. At this stage counsel for defendant intimated that-'he would plead guilty, and the employees were not called upon to give evidence.

A fine of £2O -was imposed, the Magistrate stating that the offence was a very serious one indeed. Evidence had been manufactured for the purpose of deceiving the inspector, and, therefore, it was a case for an exemplary fine.