MAGISTRATE CRITICISED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18943, 14 February 1925, Page 10

MAGISTRATE CRITICISED

REMARKS ABOUT WORKERS. RESENTMENT OF UNION. PROTEST TO CHIEF JUSTICE. [BY. TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CIffiISTCHURCH. Friday. Recently Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, intimated that all a general labourer required to wear was an undershirt and pair of pants. This statement has called forth storms of protest from the General Labourers' Union, and the following letter has been sent to the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout: — " Remarks by Mr. Wyvern Wilson as reported in the 'daily press were brought before the above union when 1 was instructed to write you protesting against the same. Objection was taken to the method adopted by Mr. Wilson, when dealing with men brought before him, of slandering a section of workers as instanced by his remarks on Tuesday, February 3. When Geo. Norman Beaton appeared before him he is reported as saying • Pick and shovel men do not work at a high rate of speed.' This rate, by the way, might bo too high for the legal gentleman if ho was working side, by side with them for a few days. Also, 'You don't want many clothes for pick and shovel work. All you want is an undershirt and pants.' *" If this gentleman had done a day's work at pick and shovel work and all, the clothes ho possessed were an undershirt and pants, we very much fear that the system would havo converted a legal gentleman into a Bolshevik. An undershirt and pants—all the clothes needed? He roust hide his head at nights and incidentally his body, or run the chances of being brought before Mr. Wilson again. " Mr. Wilson may be an authority on the rate of speed the gentlemen of the legal fraternity work at, and also what clothes are necessary for them, when engaged at their strenuous occupations, but we would request him to leave our work and the requirements of our workers alone. His sarcastic remarks are uncalled for, and in our opinion pick and shovel men are as necessary and perform equally as serviceable work as any other section of the community. We understand Mr. Wilson, in such cases as the one referred to, occupies the position on the magisterial bench to hear evidence and on it judge of the innocence or guilt of the person against whom the charge may be made, and not by taking advantage of his position to pass derogatory remarks _ reflecting on the services or the limited social requirements of these workers."