A SHEARING ROMANCE
INTERFERES WITH WORK. M.P. AS DEFENDANT. A civil action arising out of an alleged breach of contract was brought by a sheep-shearer, Cyril Allan Lucas, of Raki Raki, Hawke’s Bay, settler (■Mr J. J. McGrath), against William Hughes Field, M.P., of Wellington, solicitor (Mr M. Luokie), at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, whereby the plaintiff sought to recover the sum of £6 10s, alleged to bo due as wages. Mr E. Page, S.M., presided. The statement of'claim set forth that on December 20th, 1917, the plaintiff contracted to shear defendant’s lambs at his farm at Waikanae at the price of £1 10b per 100, shearing to commence on July 7th, 1918. Plaintiff alleged that the defendant wrongfully terminated the contract on January 7th, 1918, .and refused to allow the plaintiff to commence shearing. Through this action, claimant alleged he had suffered damages to the amount' of the claim. The defence was that some family quarrel took place between the plaintiff in the present action and two ot defendant’s shearers named Stewart and Kopata. The defendant admitted that Lucas was invited to help with the shearing of the lambs, but it was contended that the defendant’s manager, Mr Wpotton, intimated to Lucas that he would not be required, at least a fortnight before the date on which the shearing was to commence. It was alleged that Lucas and another endeavoured to arrange a marriage ivit,h .Stewart’s daughter, and when consent was refused they determined to have her removed to Otaki and married there. This action Jed to trouble, and Stewart and Ropata both told Wootton that they would not shear with Lucas, and following ring, Lucas was told that his services would not be required. However, whilst being given ample time to find othqr employment, Lucas was even offered other employment on the farm, which ho refused
After hearing the evidence, part ot which had been taken nt Hastings, tho magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff for £2 10s and costs.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM19200225.2.42
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10522, 25 February 1920, Page 7
Word Count
332A SHEARING ROMANCE New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10522, 25 February 1920, Page 7
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