ARBITRATION COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 July 1937, Page 16

ARBITRATION COURT.

DRIVERS’* DISPUTE. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. The decision of the Arbitration Court on thq claims for penalties for alleged breaches of the Northern Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson. Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland motor and horse drivers’ award, which were brought by the Labour Department in Christchurch against the Vacuum Oil Co. Proprietary Ltd., was issued today. The claims were for alleged failure to pay overtime when men were worked 44 hours in a week, and for alleged failure to pay overtime for work done during meal hours, but, as the judgment says, they amounted to an application for interpretation of the award. The Court dismissed the claim based on alleged failure to pay overtime for work done during meal hours, holding that the company was not bound to pay. It was held, however, that the coinpany had infringed the award in failing to pay overtime .when men were worked for 44 hours in a week, but no penalty was imposed on the grounds that the breach was not deliberate and that tile proceedings were for an interpretation of the award. Tlie case was heard in Christchurch on July 3 before Mr Justice O’Regan in association with Mr AV. Cecil Prime (employers’ representative) and Mr A. L. Monteith (employees’ representative). Jt followed the strike of petrol lorry drivers in Auckland and the decision bears on the question raised during the strike. Mr R. T. Bailey represented the Labour Department and Mr AV. J. Mountjoy the defendant company.