THE FARCE CONCILIATORY

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 530, 25 March 1908, Page 4

THE FARCE CONCILIATORY

STRANGE PROCEEDINGS AT EANGIORA. According to a report published in Christchurch Truth, the examination of a witness before the Conciliation Board at Rangiora on Friday was conducted in a light and airy fashIn the absence of Mr J. Thorn, the cross-examination of Mr R. Evans was resumed by Mr E. Kennedy, the other representative of tho Farm Labourers' Union. What sort of an award were you alluding to when you said that ap award would absolutely ruin small farmers?— Any award that would hamper a man in carrying on his work oither in the matter of time or extra pay. If an award stated that you could work men sixteen hours a clay, would that hamper you ?— No court would make such' an award. It just depends on the timo that I wanted the labour. 1 Suppose it was between 4 a.m. and 10 p.m.? — I might not want men between those hours, and if I wanted them at other ho ure 1 could not get them. If it said twenty-three hours?'— Perhaps that very hour that I could not employ the man I might want him. Have you ever read that old book, "Jack, tho Giant Killer" ?— No, I haven't." , . Mr Kennedy: W ell, there was an old fellow in that whose name was Joshua, who made the sun stand still while his chaps were killing the heathen! (Great laughter.) Mr Shent: Why, that's in the Bible! Tbe witness was unable to reply to the question, as he was joining in the general hearty laughter. Tho Chairman: "Look here, Mr Kennedy, wo cannot turn this into a comic opera company!" Mr Evans: "I am very sorry, Mr Chairman ; I cannot help it." Mr Kennedy (to witness): "Would you like to have the same power as this old Joshua to make the sun stand still so that 28 hours could be worked in a day?" , Witness: "If I am serving God as Joshua did, I am a good man! There is no necessity for these things; Joshua had a great work before him. But you know that was not Jack tho Giant Killer!" . (Laughter.) . Mr Kennedy: "I know it wasn't, but there is some horrible things in that-" Mr Jones: "In Old Mother Hubbard!" The Witness: "You fellows be quiet!" Mr Kennedy (to witness); "Where do you get the fact that there are 16.000 men} on farms in Canterbury?" Witness: "I got the figures from Government returns." Mr Kennedy: "Well, I looked in the Year Book." Mr Ketinedy (to Mr Jones): "Perhaps Mr Jones can tell mo what part of the Year Book they are in?" Mr Jones; "Jack the Giant Killer!" Mr Kennedy (to witness): "Did you get them from some old fairy tale?" Witness: "I am not answerable for what Mr Jones says. , The figures wero in a Government return." Mr Whiting: "What return is that?" Mr Jones: "The census returns furnished by the department." Witness: "There are several other ways of working it out." Mr Jones: "The figures were verified from three different sources, and all came out tho same." Witness: "I have given the figures on oath, and I consider them correct, and you havo to prove that I am not correct." IWPP_E»-__BB_M_B-—-M