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From: Alison Causton <>
Subject: [NIR-DOWN] Newry Telegraph: News - KENNEDY, M'ATEER, RICHEY - Newry Petty Sessions - 29 Jan 1828
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 08:08:08 -0500


SOURCE: Newry Commercial Telegraph: News - KENNEDY, M'ATEER, RICHEY - Newry
Petty Sessions - Issue dated 29 Jan 1828

========================================
The following newspaper article was transcribed from
the Newry Commercial Telegraph (microfilm), by permission
of The British Library.
========================================

NEWRY PETTY SESSIONS.
------------------------------------------
Important to Masters and Journeymen.
On Friday last, the Committee of the Union
Bakery, being duly summoned, appeared on the
complaint of James Kennedy. This individual,
having been sworn, stated that, some time ago, he
was employed, by the Committee, as a journey-
man baker, at 18s. per week‹that he continued
in this employment until the night of Saturday
the 26th instant, without the slightest objection to
his conduct, when, to his surprise, he was dis-
missed without any previous notice, although it
is an established rule in that as well as in every
other trade, that before a journeyman can be dis-
missed, he is entitled, at least, to one week¹s no-
tice, as without it he might not be able to procure
employment the ensuing week. He further stated,
that it was well understood between the master
and the journeyman, that in the event of the for-
mer dismissing the latter without notice, the mas-
ter was bound to pay a week¹s wages. He, there-
fore, prayed the Bench to grant him an order
against the Committee for that sum.
The Committee admitted the existence of such
an understanding between masters and journey-
men, but endeavoured to prove that the com-
plainant had, through their foreman, given them
regular notice of his intention to quit their service,
in which, however, they failed.
The Bench, in pronouncing its order, said that
the Committee, who appeared to have entirely
failed in their defence, must be well aware that
if any of their men departed from their service
without due notice, not only would such journey-
man, but any person employing him, under such
circumstances, subject themselves to a severe
penalty. They were also aware (for it appeared
to be part of their agreement) that before a master
can dismiss his servant, he must give him the
usual notice, and, indeed, it would be an extreme
hardship were it otherwise, for the latter might
not, as has been remarked, be able to procure em-
ployment during the ensuing week, although a
large family might entirely depend for subsistence
on his industry, and who, perhaps, too often wait
to the week¹s end with impatience for it. In con-
clusion, they felt no difficulty in complying with
the present application, particularly as it was ad-
mitted that the subject of it formed part of their
agreement.

Caution to Carmen.
Mr. John Richey, of Newry, merchant, being
summoned to shew cause why he should not pay
to John M¹Ateer, carman, the sum of £1 12s.,
being so much wages claimed by him for the car-
riage of two hogsheads of sugar, from Belfast to
Newry, appeared.‹M¹Ateer having proved his
employment by Mr. Richey, and the carriage and
delivery of the goods, Mr. Richey was called on
for his defence, and, being sworn, stated that when
he purchased the goods he carefully examined
them, and had them delivered to the complainant
for carriage to Newry, but on their delivery there
he found that the sugar was much damaged in
the carriage, so much so that he lost materially by
it, and for that reason submitted he was not bound
to pay the wages sought for, the damage having
been caused by the negligence of the carman.
The Bench fully concurred with Mr. Richey ;
and, addressing M¹Ateer, said, that he not only
was not entitled to wages, but, in their opinion,
subjected himself to a civil action for the loss sus-
tained through his negligence. They, therefore,
dismissed the complaint.

========================================
This reprint is intended SOLELY for the non-commercial
use of family historians, with the sincere hope that a Lister
may find the content useful. I am not descended from the
person(s) mentioned herein. **Please refer any questions
arising from this article to the general readership of the
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