THE DIXON CASE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 10

THE DIXON CASE.

DEPUTATION- TO' THE :MINISTER: (BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, May 11. A. deputation from . Driiry indignation meetings waited on tho Hon. J. M'Gowan to-day, concerning tho case ,of, Mr. Dixon, imprisoned for failure, to obey ain or,dor .of tho" Court for back paymont of wages to an employee. Tho deputation considered 110 punishment should have been inflicted, because Mr. Dixon had employed the man as an apprentice, not as ■ a journeyman, ,arid that ill "any case the sentence of two. months was too severe. , • . Mr. M'Gowan promised to give duo consideration to tho' arguments. .Mr. Dixon, lie said, had received every consideration. Ho had admitted that he had means, to pay tho fine, but had declared his intention not to do so. The Minister did, not think 110 had-either the_ power or tho right to interfere, but promised a reply as early'as possible. ' A Drury farmer, who was one of the deputation, referred rather feelingly to what he considered the injustice of imprisoning Mr. Dixon. His own case, and that of many other farmors, ho declared, was. synonymous with that of the imprisoned . man.' •''•Ho, pointed out that ho had got several employed on his farm as general hands at 7s. per day, the labourers' wages..- v One of these men, in particular, he mentioned as being likely to get him into trouble in'tho same way that Mr. Dixon was entangled; The, man in question did all, sorts of jobs, from ploughing to: building houses. "So,", remarked, the farmer, "if Mr. Dixon was liable, I am liable too. I supposo if I were called upon. to pay a fine I should certainly refuse to. Every farmer in the place is similarly situated. Tlie man I refer to is getting all: he asks for; all 110 wants. So why should 'I pay moro?" Mr. M'Gowan suggested that tho matter was beside tho point, and tho subject dropped.