MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 February 1925, Page 4

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

TO-DAY (THURSDAY.) (Before Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M.) CIVIL CASES. J ik! foment by default was. given in the following cases: —<E. Laullaw'v. Ij. Bycroft, £l2 Os 6cl and costs £3 2s; M. Allen' v. Frank King, £lO and costs. £1 10s 6dHawera. Motors v. Frank King, £4 19s and costs £1 3s (Id; J., Manson v. Frank King, £3 and costs £ 13s 6d. CLAIM FOR, WAGES DEDUCTED. A claim was made by E. Bettridge against Margaret Willcocks for failing to pay the entire amount of wages earned and for deducting the sum of £1 17s for various items. .

Mr. O’Dea, who a.ppeiared for plaintiff, said it was a most unusual case, a, breach of the Truck Act and Wages Protection Act. He detailed the items of deductions, which, included two locks, electric light globe, ring and lid of stove, and cost of potatoes taken from ismall garden. He said it was plain the deductions could not be made.

Plaintiff gave evidence he had been working for defendant for four years, working a,s a milker from daylight to dark, and that lie had no holidays at all during the time lie was on the farm. He stated, that he had not done any damage to any parts of the house he occupied. To Mr. Brodie: He admitted signing a receipt on which, the deductions were detailed. He had no agreement as to hours or duties, but had to ’do the dairy work of the- farm. To Mr. • O’Dea.: He said he (was milking 80 rows, with the assistance of Mr. Willcockis. Mr. Brodie based his defence on certain sections of the Act. and 'Said these deductions were made for damages. (

His Worship mid that the Act stated that wages must be-paid in money without deductions, and not otherwise. There were onlv certain exemptions for some specified occupations. He oaid he would take time to consider the points raised by counsel, aml. be therefore reserved judgment. CRIMINAL CASES. VIOLENCE AND OBSCENE LANGUAGE. Oswald Harris, charged with using obscene language and with violent behaviour on a train between Oamaru and Timaru, pleaded guilty to the charges.

Sergeant Henry briefly detailed the circumstances in which the offences were committed, stating that Harris was_ evicted from the train for his behaviour. • , .’■■■

Mr F. C. Spratt, who appeared for accused, said that, although he had a bad record, his troubles were due mainly to indulgence in drink, and he added that Harris had worked hard part of the time since his first sentence expired. He stated that accused had asked for a prohibition order to be taken out against himself. Harris had suffered already by being detained eight days, ana he asked the Bench to take into consideration accused’s had start in life.

His Worship said the prohibition order would be made against accused, to operate all over the Dominion, and he would be well - advised to obey strictly the order of the court. The fact of his, being eight days in custody would he taken into consideration, and h© would be fined 10s and costs on the charge of obscene' language, and ordered to pay costs on the charge of violent behaviour.