Hannam Family

WAGES ARREARS
The proprietor of the Florida Cafe, Torquay, was ordered by Mr. J. Ward, S.M., in the Court of Petty Sessions, yesterday to pay to his erstwhile cafe cook the sum of £52/19/4 arrears in wages. The defendant did not appear in court.
In the absence of defendant, Douglas P. Hannam, Mr. J. T. McGuirk, industrial inspector who laid a complaint that defendant had failed to pay the rate of wages prescribed by the award for the week ended May 3, asked that the case be heard ex-parte.
Mr. McGuirk said that on May 4, 1949, he told defendant that Desmond I. Godfrey had informed him that he had finished his employment with defendant and that he had received only £35/10/- in wages for the period of his employment. Defendant's wife stated witness, said: "Des will be allright. We will pay him his money as soon as Doug's money comes through from England."
Asked when the money was expected, said witness, defendant's wife replied: "We are expecting it some time next month." When told that the time and wages book indicated that God- frey had been employed as a cook at £8 a week, but that a payment had apparently not been made to him since the week ended January 19, Mrs. Hannam replied: "Des has no need to worry. He knows he will get his money. He has really been managing the place while we were away in Brisbane.
On May 5, said witness, he saw defendant and his wife in Maryborough. He told them that Godfrey had placed the matter of the wages owing to him in witness's hands. Mrs . Hannam asked for a few weeks, when they would "fix every thing up."
On June 27 defendant paid £30 in to his office, said witness, as part payment of the arrears of wages and holiday pay owing to Godfrey. Defendant told him that he did not intend to defend the action.
Desmond I. Godfrey, of Torquay gave evidence of his employment by the defendant as cafe cook from November to May 3. Mrs. Hannam had engaged him. He was to be paid £8 a week, but had received only £35/10/- up to Januarv 19, and £30 since through the industrial inspector's office.
Mr. McGuirk said that he would not ask for more than the minimum penalty. The matter of time to pay was a matter for the employee concerned. Defendant was convicted and fined £1, and was ordered to pay 6/- costs of court, with £2 witness's expenses. He was also ordered to pay £52/19/4 arrears of wages.

On the subject of time to pay, applicant Godfrey said that he had no objection to a week's time. This was allowed.

   DECISION RESERVED IN WAGES CLAIM
DECISION was reserved to a date to be fixed by Mr. J. Ward, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday in a claim which contained an alleged proposal to establish a passenger service with the launch Dorothy from Torquay to Fraser Island and the Barrier Reef.
The hearing had been adjourned from May 31. A witness from Brisbane—a clerk in the employ of a firm of solicitors, whose evidence concerned a conference between the plaintiff and the defendant, was heard yesterday.
The witness said that he could not recall the word "wages" having been used during the conference. The plaintiff, Alfred Henry Benjamin Fereday, claimed £152/7/2 as balance of £406/- 19/9 alleged to be due as wages and expenses due from and incurred on behalf of Douglas Phillip Hannam. The defendant Hannam counter-claimed for £200 for money alleged to be lent, rent collected and not paid over, and for other items alleged to be due from plaintiff in the original action.
Mr. D. T. Noone appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. J. G. Comans appeared for the defendant.
In the hearing on May 31 plaintiff said that he was approached by Mr. and Mrs Hannam to go to Brisbane to inspect a launch fit to carry passengers from Fraser Island to the Barrier Reef. He was to be paid £10 a week while in Brisbane. The launch was eventually bought and plaintiff said he was given permission to buy all gear and equipment. He also alleged a certain agreement in respect to the running of the launch.
The plaintiff, recalled by Mr. Noone yesterday, said that he and defendant went to the Vacuum Oil Co. at Bulimba after the boat was purchased. Petrol, kerosene and Vacolite were purchased in witness' name. Hannam produced his cheque book, wrote a cheque for the amount and was given a receipt. The goods were delivered to Hawthorne, where the boat was moored.
    CHEQUE REJECTED
About three days after, said the witness, he got a telephone call from the Vacuum Oil Co. to say that the cheque was rejected at the bank.
Witness said he got in touch with Mr. Hannam by phone, and Mr. Hannam wired him £30. This he paid to the Vacuum Oil Co.
Witness stated that at a conference in Morris, Fletcher and Cross' office in Brisbane, a document was drawn up which made him skipper of the Dorothy, with the right to hire and fire.
Mrs. Dorothy Hannam, recalled, said that she had found a receipt for £30, which had been forwarded to Brisbane to pay the plaintiff's expenses while he was there.
Mr. Comans, at this juncture, requested permission to amend the counter-claim by the addition of £30, making the total £254 15/9.
Mrs. Hannam denied that a cheque made out in favour of thc Vacuum Oil Co. was "knocked back" because it could not be honoured. It was returned on account of the signature. The sum was later paid by another cheque, she claimed.
Leslie G. Harrop, who said that he was a member of the crew of the Dorothy gave evidence that the terms under which he was engaged were a share for each member of the crew of five. Two shares were to go to Fereday and the owners.
A fishing venture was not a success, said the witness
    LAW CLERK'S EVIDENCE
Kenneth G. Wacker, a clerk in the employ of Morris Fletcher and Cross, solicitors, Brisbane, said that plaintiff came to the office twice. On the first occasion he was alone, and on the second he was accompanied by the defendant, Hannam.
Fereday, said witness, asked him to draw up an agreement as he intended to engage a boat, and would be servicing lighthouses.
When Mr. Hannam came with Mr. Fereday, said witness, Mr Hannam seemed undecided about remuneration and witness asked him to think it over, and to come back later with instructions.
Witness could not recall if the word "wages" was mentioned during the discussion Mr. Hannam had very little to say, and Mr. Fereday did most of the talking, said witness.
The solicitors briefly addressed, and decision was reserved.

The Hannam Family

Douglas Philip Hannam

Philip James Hannam

Philip Hannam

Sydney Philip Hannam