LABOURER AND FARMER

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1929, Page 10

LABOURER AND FARMER

DISAGREEMENT OVER WAGES. PLAINTIFF'S CLAIM NON-SUITED. “There has been a large amount of talk over a small amount of money,” said Mr. R. W- Tate, S.M., at the Stratford Court yesterday. The case was one in which a youth, Selwyn M. Paterson, Tarata, sued Leonard D. Belton, farmer, of Kaponga, for £6 15s, allegedly balance of wages owing. Commenced at the Stratford Court at the previous sitting, the action was adjourned till yesterday. In spite of the few witnesses involved it was nearly 3 p.m. before finality was reached. Plaintiff was engaged as a labourer on Belton’s farm from September to March. He gave notice in the latter month because he considered he had not been treated fairly. He alleged the defendant deducted 5s a week from his wages on the grounds that plaintiff had caused, him considerable trouble. Defendant claimed that he deducted the 5s on account of plaintiff’s leaving before the end of the season.

The magistrate non-suited Paterson with costs £1 10s 6d.

Evidence for the plaintiff had been taken at the previous sitting, but plaintiff’s father, Robert Paterson, was recalled by Mr. A. Coleman, counsel for plaintiff. Plaintiff was a willing worker and a capable boy, said Sidney A. George, manager of a 2000-acre property at Tarata, who had employed plaintiff for some months, “In this case I will submit that defendant is entitled to judgment,” said Mr. P. Thomson. Plaintiff had given defendant a full discharge in the matter of remuneration through plaintiff having signed a receipt for the wages owing to him. There had been no suggestion that the discharge was a fraud. Besides those strictly legal defences, defendant had a sound case, as could be shown by the evidence that could be called, said Mr. Thomson.'. “The receipt is an admission but it is not conclusive,” said' Mr. Tate. “We had better have the evidence.” As the result of an advertisement he inserted in the Daily News, plaintiff and his father called on him at his farm at Kaponga, said defendant, Leonard D. Belton. After some argument over the wages witness offered the boy 35s a week, providing he stayed the season; otherwise 5s a week would be deducted. To this proposal plaintiff’s father agreed. After two or three days witness could see that plaintiff had had little experience and for three months witness gave him an hour’s 'instruction every day. Plaintiff was practically useless with a shovel or an axe, while he knew nothing about hand milking. “He was the most helpless coon I’d ever met,” witness said.

Had plaintiff had any experience or used method in his work his hours would, have been considerably shorter, witness continued. When plaintiff gave notice witness reminded him that he would forfeit 5s a week. Plaintiff made no comment when witness gave him his final wages, except to say that the deduction of the 'ss a week would compensate witness for the trouble he had caused him. Mr. Tate: If this boy was so un satisfactory why did you not get rid of him? —Because I was unable to get another in the flush of the season and I had hopes of making something oi him. There were two different stories In the case, and he who affirms must prove, said Mr. Tate, before giving judg-. inent. He had no reason to believe that either side had misrepresented the truth. Rather, he thought, was it a case of misunderstanding between the two parties. The receipt for wages given to defendant by plaintiff was a matter of importance, but nevertheless a receipt was only prima facie evidence and was capable of explanation. If defendant had discharged plaintiff instead of the latter giving notice to defendant, then the argument of undue influence would probably have carried weight. If the boy had been dissatisfied with defendant’s treatment of him, Mr. Tate continued, he would merely have complained to his parents, and that he did not seemed to indicate that either he was well treated or that he could not fully express himself. From the circumstances it appeared that in all probability defendant would not have employed plaintiff in the first place had defendant not been sure that he could deduct os a week from plaintiff's salary if he did not stay the season. “If plaintiff wished to claim the £6 15s he should have laid the facts before me so' that there could be no question that plaintiff was to be paid 35s weekly,” Mr. Tate said. He would nonsuit plaintiff. BOOKS ADDED TO LIBRARY. NEW VOLUMES FOR AUGUST. The librarian (Mr. A. S. Martin) has added the following 38 new books to the Stratford Public Library during August: —Mops, Oliver Sandys; Down South, Upton Gray; Nataska, Marjorie Williamson; The Silver Hawk, William B. Mowery; The Orator, Edgar Wallace; The Night Horseman, Max Brand; White Shadows in the South Seas, Fred. O’Brien; Fire, Armine Von Tempski; The Laughing String, Hildegarde Huntsman; Uphill Trek, Sheila Macdonald; White Shadows in the South Seas (second copy). Fredk. O’Brien; East o’ the Sun, Kathlyn Rhodes; "Little Novels of Nowadays, Sir Philip Gibbs; The Whole Story, Elizabeth Bibesco; Another part of the Wood, Denis Mackail; Jack o’ Lantern, George Goodchild; The Romantic Prince, Sabatini; Captain of Souls, Edgar Wallace; Roon, Herbert Asquith; Soldiers of Misfortune, P. C. Wren; This Strange Adventure, Mary R. Rhinehart; Visitors to Hugo, Alice G. Rosman; Eve to the Rescue, Ethel Hueston; Monkeys of Haitu, Maxwell C'arnson; Seven Footprints to Satan, A. Merritt; Trust Wesley, R. L. Jacot; The Ghost, Arnold Bennett; The Ginger Jar, Oliver Sandys; The Devine Court Mystery, Beryl Symonds; The Umpire’s Game, Richard Blaker; Love and Chiffon, Elizabeth Milton; Jack River’s Wife,

Emmeline Morrison; Frass, John Chancellor;' Blood Royal, Dornford Yates; The Three Black Dots, Ottwell Binns; The Treasure House of Martin News, E. P. Oppenheim; Mr. Antony, Oliver Sandys; Luxury Unlimited, Arthur Applin. GENERAL. ITEMS. Extensive repairs and improvements have been effected in the kitchen portion of the Patea Town Hall which it is considered will be much appreciated by those using the hall for any social function. The work has been in hand for some little time, but it was reported at last night’s meeting of the borough council that they should be completed to-morrow. “I’ve had experience with training reinforcements and I know how long a boy should take to learn any given work correctly,” said a witness in a civil action at the Stratford Court yesterday when the ability and experience of witness’ ex-farm employee were in question. “Do you think you can introduce army sergeant-major methods into Taranaki dairy farming?” asked Mr. A. Coleman. “I did not try to,” witness replied.

An increase in births and deaths and a decrease in marriages are revealed by the Stratford vital statistics for August in comparison with those of August, 1925. The are, with those of the 1928 month in parentheses: Births 18 (15), deaths 9 (5), marriages 4 (G). On account of the Canterbury v. Taranaki representative Rugby match at Stratford on Thursday the Stratford Cycle Club’s fortnightly race will not be held on that day as arranged, but will be postponed until the following Thursday. Six new houses and a shop are included ' in the amount of £7109 for which building permits have been issued by the Stratford Borough Council during August. As a farewell and presentation to Mr. and Mrs. G. Woods a social and dance will be held in the Ngaere hall on Friday evening. A comprehensive musical and vocal programme has been arranged. Mr. Woods, who has been manager of' the Ngaere dairy factory for six years, is leaving to take over the management of the Mangatoki factory. An invitation to attend the complimentary dance that is being tendered to the Canterbury representative Rugby team in the Stratford Town Hall on Thursday evening has been extended to the public. Boulton’s orchestra will supply the music. ELTHAM GENERAL ITEMS. In connection with the building of the proposed Plunket rest room, a site for which has been donated in Bridge Street west, considerable di.scussio'h is taking place in the Borough Council and among supporters of the scheme, as to the material to be utilised for the building. As the site is within the brick area decided upon by the council, there is a diversity of opinion as to the advisability of allowing a structure other than brick or concrete to be erected. Following a week of fine sunny weather. farms are assuming a more pleasing aspect, the grass commencing _ to come away well and pasture land being generally drier. An excellent lambing season is reported from all parts of the district, the fine weather reducing the expected mortality considerably. In some parts there is an unusual number of twins. In spite of the amount of unemployment reported daily it is understood that farmers in many cases are experiencing great difficulty in obtaining the services of farm labourers at a wage previously considered reasonable for that class of work. In a number , of instances hands in steady employment, in addition to their keep, demanded a considerable increase, and it has been found by many farmers that the labour of married couples at the wage demanded could be easily obtained. As a result a number of single* labourers are vainly seeking employment at the higher wage. It is suggested that the high rate paid for relief work is having its effect and that labour is attracted to the towns accordingly. It was remarked by a recent visitor to Eltham that the improvement to be observed in the general run of farm houses and surroundings in the district was most marked, the conditions brought about by the increase in price for farm produce evidently allowing farmers to do work long wished for but until now impossible of performance. KING’S THEATRE—STRATFORD. “THE WINGED HORSEMAN.” Hoot amply upholds his claim that he can ride anything that goes, and in “The Winged Horseman” shows himself equally at home on horseback, astride a bumping motor-cycle doing “50 an hour,” up a steep hill, or tail-spinning in an aeroplane. Right from the commencement of the picture, with the aeroplane bombing of ranch buildings, the story spells thrills and action, and what with spluttering motor-cycles chasing galloping horses, aeroplane duels and parachute descents, there is ample entertainment for those who look for excitement from the picture screen. Gibson is co-starred with Ruth Elder, the famous aviatrix who flew the Atlantic, and her flying prowess is vividly demonstrated in this picture. Miss Elder shows surprising acting ability in addition to

her flying. Others in the cast who contribute excellent portrayals include Chas N, Schaeffer, Allan Forrest and Her-, bert Pryer.