Farmer Fined for Striking Employees

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6866, 24 May 1932, Page 9

Farmer Fined for Striking Employees

must keep his hands off SAYS MAGISTRATE. Charged with assaulting two boys who were in his employ by hitting them on the head, a Bunnythorpc farmer, named Walter Andrew, was fined £6 with £3 2s costs, by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court yesterday. Defendant, who was represented by Mr. Ongley, pleaded not guilty. Alex. Andrew, 16 years of age, no relation of defendant, said lie was in the employ of defendant, and on April 30 he and another employee named Parkinson went to the football at Bunnythorpe. They knew defendant would not be home until late so they took another lad, Groves, home to help them milk. Defendant arrived home at 6 p.m. and objected to Groves being there., At tea time defendant again asked who brought Groves to the farm, Parkinson saying both of them had asked him to help them. Defendant told Parkinson he could not go out that night and on Parkinson asking why, defendant hit him with his fist. Defendant also told witness he could not go out that night, whereupon witness told him he would quit the job. Mrs. Andrews interposed, stating: “I suppose you think you are a man?” I said “Oh, yes,” whereupon Andrew jumped up, saying I could not treat his wife liko that. He hit witness over the eye inflicting a gash that had to have three stitches put in. To Mr. Ongley witness said he had been in Andrew’s employ six weeks at the time and Parkinson longer. They took Groves homo because they belieyed defendant would not be homo till late. Andrew did not say anything to Groves while the latter was there, except to send him away. • Counsel: Both of .you were fairly cheeky, weren't you? Witness: No, sir. The question of getting Groves cropped up again at tea time? —Yes. And defendant said something about Parkinson getting out of hand? —Yes. Counsel: He told Parkinson he wanted his wings clipped? —Yes. Counsel: What happened then? Witness: He ordered him off to bed and said he could not go to town that night. Witness added that Andrew got off his seat to strike Parkinson, who retreated to the whare. Counsel: Andrew then told you that you were getting too cheeky and could have a night home too? Witness: He told me I could not go to town, whereupon I gave him notice. Counsel: Mrs. Andrew says it was your fault Parkinson got into trouble? Witness: She said he had got much worse since I went there. Witness denied calling Mrs. Andrew a liar just before he was hit. Andrew came around the table to hit him. Counsel: You and Parkinson were distinctly over the traces, weren’t you? You thought you were men. Witness denied the charge. Ivan Parkinson, aged 1C A, told a similar story. Defendant, witness said, objected to Groves being on the farm, stating that there were “enough mad chaps around here at present.” Witness objected to being classed as mad and told defendant so, whereupon he was clouted on the head. He then went to his whare, packed his ba.g and caught a bus. Andrew went with him. Witness thought defendant had been drinking that afternoon, because of the way he talked. He told them he could manage his own farm and did not want Groves there. Witness admitted defendant took extra precautions to prevent the spread of udder disease and that that was why he did not want other milkers there. Counsel: Andrew told you you were getting too cheeky and wanted your wings clipped. You then asked aim how he was going to do it. Witness: I only said “why?” Witness would not admit that he had been sent to defendant to work because neither his uncle nor his father could manage him. Mrs. Andrew was his aunt. The reason for taking Groves along was so that they could get into town. Alex. V. L. Andrew, father of the first witness, said defendant ha.d seen him about the incident and expressed his regret. He said he had lose his head. To counsel, witness said defendant had mentioned that the boys were cheeky. Constable W. R. Miller said defendant had admitted knocking the boys off the chair. The cause of the trouble had been the cheekiness of the boys and the boy Andrew had called Mrs. Andrew a liar.

Mr. Ongley stated that the facts outlined by the police were correct. Parkinson had been cheeky and had been struck with the back of the hand. Defendant was in authority over Parkinson and had the duty of a parent towards him. The boy undrew was just as cheeky as he possibly could be and had called Mrs. Andrew a liar when admonished for using bad language. Defendant had a provocation under whic* most men would have acted similarly though it was unfortunate an injury had been inflicted.

Defendant, in evidence, said Parkinson was really one of the family and had been sent to witness to be under control. Since the other boy came to the farm Parkinson had becomo more defiant. In the afternoon witness had been down to the football grounds, being club captain, and had not had any drink. At the tea table he told Parkir. son he was abusing his liberty in inviting Groves to the farm and would have to hav6 his wings clipped. Parkinson annoyed him by asking how he was going to do it, whereupon witness smacked him with the back of his hand. The blow was not a severe qne and he certainly did not rise from his chair and punch the boy. After that witness admonished the lad Andrew for being cheeky and Mrs. Andrew accused him of using bad language. The boy said Mrs. Andrew was a liar, whereupon witness leaned over the table and hit him. To the senior-sergeant, witness admit-

tod that a month previously he had .hit a man named Hughes and brougnt blood. He had hit him in self-defence, Hughes having come to the house demanding trouble. Constable Millar had come on the 3cene at the time and knew the circumstances. Mrs. Andrew, wife of defendant, said the boy Parkinsou was her nephew ana had been sent to the farm because he could not get on with an uncle. She spoke of the incidents at the tea table, stating that the boys had given cheek that no could stand. She told the boy Andrew trouble was all through him, whereupon the boy grinned sarcastically, and on being accused of using bad language, called her a liar. “I think the person who wants his wings clipped is defendant,” said the Magistrate. “He must keep his hands off his employees and not lose his temper.” A fine of £3 on each charge with £3 2s costs, was inflicted.