Wage-docking franchisee to sell up

Masterton employment lawyer Jills Angus Burney said she had received information that Lucas had been forced to sell by Gull and Night 'n Day after boycott calls.

"He has been required to relinquish his franchise because the parties to the franchise are unhappy with the financial impact of the publicity around the illegal deductions."

Night 'n Day chief executive Tony Allison denied forcing Lucas to sell. "I wouldn't say we brought it about, I'd say Nick brought it about . . . Nick came to his own conclusions."

Allison conceded the bad publicity had affected sales nationally, but said it was too soon to blame anyone, as an investigation was still under way.