Skegness Magazine

1938 Story of Feminine “Set – to” Entertains County Court Registrar
“ROW” DURING BANK HOLIDAY WEEK
Daily Help Who Went Off for the Day and Did Not Return

A feminine “set-to” between a Skegness boarding-house keeper and her day help appeared highly to entertain the Registrar of the Skegness County, Court (Mr. W. S. Rainey) at the monthly sitting on Friday last.
Mrs. Mary Treece, of Askey’s Flats, Skegness, sued Miss Norwood, of West Cotes Private Hotel, South Parade, for a week’s wages in lieu of notice, and other items including wages for half-day holidays worked, amounting in all to £1 11s. 2d.
Plaintiff said she was employed by defendant as daily chambermaid-waitress from April 27th last at a weekly wage of 12s. 6d., the engagement being subject to a week’s notice on either side.
The service was given until August 4th, when plaintiff was away ill for four days. When she went back to the hotel on August 8th, defendant just packed her off and told her to go.
The Registrar: Were you surprised?—Yes. I was just going back to my work in the ordinary way.

ABUSIVE LANGUAGE ALLEGED.
Did Miss Norwood give you any reason ? No, I think it was just because I was ill. I asked her if she was going to pay me the three days’ wages due, and a week’s wages in lieu of notice, but she refused to pay me before I left the house. She has not paid me anything for the half-day holidays I worked for three months.
Defendant: Her statements are not correct. She used, most abusive language.
Plaintiff: I did not. I spoke as a waitress should do.
Defendant: She was in a violent temper on the night of August 3rd.
Plaintiff: I went home exhausted and ill. You knew I was ill with the work you got out of me.
Defendant: I did not. She left me for three days, and her husband then called for the money.
Defendant, sworn, said Mrs Treese, went out of the house on the afternoon of August 3rd, and came back in a peculiar mood at 5-30 p.m. She did not seem to know her duties. When witness asked her to do something she used abusive language, and ran the gong although she had not got the vegetables up.

ALL BEGINNING WITH “B.”
The Registrar: What did plaintiff say?—She used some very strong adjectives, and hurled most abusive words at me, all beginning with B.
How many began with B?—Four or five. (Laughter). She was in a vile temper and left me after the meal was finished.
Did she tell you she was going?—No.
Did you dismiss her?—No. She made no request for wages, but her husband came for the money. I told him to ask her to call. She came on the Monday night following, and asked if her job was still open, but I had had to get temporary help, and I gave her her insurance card and belongings. She asked for three days’ wages after she left me, but I think it was I who was entitled to a week’s notice, and I did not pay her.

A GOOD FIELD DAY
The Registrar said he thought the two ladies had had a good field day for their money. (Laughter). Each had told her own version of the unfortunate differences that had occurred in that boarding-house in August Bank Holiday week. They had a royal row and their association was severed.
In the first place the relations were happy and harmonious, but a bolt from the blue came on August 4th, when plaintiff went out for the day and did not return. There was complaint of dereliction of duty. Ructions followed, and the harmony of the boardinghouse was destroyed.
Plaintiff left without notice, and the mistress was left to the tender mercies of temporary help in the height of the season.
He was sorry there should have been such differences between the parties, and did not think the plaintiff was justified in leaving without notice. He gave judgment for defendant on the claim for wages in lieu of a week’s notice, but found for plaintiff on the other items amounting to 15s. 8d., with costs.