MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 1647, 11 March 1922, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

OTOROHANGA SITTINGS

FARMERS IN DISTRESS. At the Otorohanga Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, before Mr F. W. Platts, S.M., over 100 civil cases came up for consideration. In the majority of cases, judgment was given by consent or confession, whilst a number of cases were adjourned. In several instances debtors appeared in person to explain why they had not paid their debts after judgment summonses were issued against them at the last sitting of the court. J. Leatham,. farmer, Otorohanga, said he was unable to pay the Farmers’ Union Trading Co. the £63 12s 5d he owed them. He was milkingon the share system, and bis cheque for the last five months averaged £l6 per month. Mr Vernon: I suppose you get free milk and house? —Yes! What about meat. I suppose you buy it off the farmers out there for 3d per lb?—No! I get it from the Otorohanga butchers. Yes, I suppose you would pay three or' four times that amount in Otorohanga?—l might have to. Continuing, defendant said be had a farm at Tahaia, but as there was no stock on it, there was no income. He had no money and no banking account. His Worship: I can’t make an order in this case. No Rloncy for Beer. John Power (Mr Patterson) claimed £ll 15s 6d from Joe Hawera. Defendant admitted that he had appeared in the Otorohanga Court on several occasions in connection with claims for debt. He was keeping his wife and three children, also his mother-in-law.

In answer to Mr Patterson, defendant said that ho certainly hadn’t any money to buy beer with. He was fined £25 in August last, but someone else had paid it for him. FTe- hadn’t been able to get any work since the judgment summons was issued.

His Worship declined to make an order.

A sorrowful-looking individual, badly in need of a shave and answering to the name of Sydney Norman, endeavoured to explain why be could not pay Dalgety and Co. £4O Is 6d. He said he had started milking 12 cows in December last. Flis January cheque was £5. He had five children from 15 years downwards. Their piano had been sold to buy provisions.

Mr Patterson: When was it sold?— When T was away at work. What did it bring?—l don’t know. I made no enquiries about it. Extraordinary! A valuable piece of furniture goes out of the house, and you do not ask what it brought, or who bought it? —I don’t know anything about it. No! You don’t want to know, either. After witness had said he had no money and no banking account, the Magistrate said he could not make an order.

Up Against it.

Union Trading Co. (Mr Vernon) v. William Johnston, dairy farmer, Otorohanga.

The defendant in this case wore the Returned Soldiers’ Association badge, and had the appearance of being constantly engaged in hard work. He said he owed the plaintiff company £32 12s, most of which was for stores supplied'.' He had taken up a small farm under the soldiers’ settlement scheme last year, and had started milking 10 cows, but was up against it. He had to have food, etc., and regretted that the account had got beyond his finances. He was making every endeavour to pay the amount, but could make no offer just at present. Mr Vernon: Under those circumstances, your Worship, I will not ask for an order. Johnston is thoroughly honest, and doing his best. His Worship: Yes! I could not make an order under the circumstances. Judgment by Default. Judgment for plain! iff by default was given in the following cases:* — State Advances Department v. Iff and G. Dawson. £l2 13s 4d; same v. Henry McKenzie, £9 3s 3d. Farmers’ Union Trading Co. v. Whnrenui, £6 3s (id; H. Corban v. Kingi To Mate. £23: Corbett and Mossman v. A. Rawlinson, £(> .-Is (id; same v. If. Davies, £8 6s 2d; Farmers’ Union Trading Co. v. D. Hickey, £9 8s -1<1; Farmers’ Union Trading Co. v. Brown 11. Nikora, £l2 ss; same v. Harry Hotu, £2O 6s Id; same v. S. Takiahu, £l9 Os lOd; same v. Turi lluiao, £ls 5s lid; Otorohanga Town Hoard v. IT. McKenzie, £2 19s and £1 18s (id; same v. 11. G. Cornwall, £2l 19s; Farmers’ Union Trading Co. v. Thomas Harvey. £Ol 5s 9d; H. Isaac v. T. Lawson, £lO 15s; A. D. Halt v. J. McSherry, £32 '18s; IT. Corban v. Parekaihiua Tuhora, £l3 17s 2d.

Judgment summonses were issued against defendants in the following cases: —G. Bull v. A. Martin, £7 15s v lid, in default three days’ imprisonment; R. T. Rhodes v. We We, £l3 Us, in default seven days.