HINDOOS CLAMOUR FOR MONEY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17986, 1 February 1924, Page 14

HINDOOS CLAMOUR FOR MONEY.

STRANGE COURT SCENE. -.. (FEOlt OCE OWN COBRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, January 24. The almost complete failure of the sugar crop in the South Johnstone area in Northern Queensland had a curious sequel in the Innisfail Summons Court last week when a planter was sued by several Hindoo labourers for about £9O which was owing in wages. There was no question as to liability, the only trouble being the plantter's immediate capacity to pay, following the disasters of the season. All offers that- he had submitted had failed to placate, the importunate creditors, and the solicitors on both sides expressed their regret that the matter had reached the stage of Court proceedings. The scene in Court, where all the Hindoos in the neighbourhood congregated to see.how their compatriots fared, was truly Oriental. with . its huddled masses of dark," perspiring turbanned spectators following every in- ■ cident of the proceedings with lynx- | like keenness. The proceedings opened with the free admission of the, solicitor for the defendant of the indebtedness, and an explanation of the honest endeavours of his client to meet to some extent the liabilities that the season's returns . had left , him incapable of completely clearing off, and concluded by repeating his offer, made prior to the court proceedings and-.rejected by the Hindoo, to give I them an order on the mill for his next season's crop for the whole of the I amounts due to them. The solicitor for the complainants followed with his own personal regret that his clients were unwilling to adopt, this course. "But Hindoos," he explained, "are notoriously suspicious about money matters and"l am'unable to persuade them to agree to this. We all know here that it is no uncommon thing for. these people to go to the' savings bank and take out • the whole of their savings just to make sure that they are still there, and then put them back!" He urged that some effort should be made by the defendant to raise the necessary money. In reply to this the solicitor for the defendant remarked that his client under ordinary conditions • could have raised the money easily, but everybody knew that it was utterly impossible to raise money on South Johnstone areas just now. Thereupon the complainants' solicitor turned to his Hindoo clients and asked, "Do you want to put this man in gaol or will you wait for your money?" An extraordinary scene followed, the men's compatriots taking-up their excited demand for the money, and setting un an hysterical clamour for money. With their faces working with excitement, and. their lean work-worn arms stretched out thev set up a babel of ejaculations, evidently regarding the matter as a crucial moment to the whole of their community in testing their rights to secure payment, and it was some time before order was sufficiently restored to enable the proceedings to continue. The Magistrate was left with no alternative and entered _ judgment for the complainants, allowing two months for payment.