CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3295, 20 April 1885, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

BHEARERB' CUSTOM,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMARU HERALD.

Sic, — In your report of the above casein to-day's Herald you have only givon one side of the story. You have given the defendant's claim for a nonsuit m full, also His Worship's ruling. Now sir, as tlio defendant elnims that this is an important case, and that ho defended the action, not f »r the yaluo of the amount involved, but upon principle, will you be so kind as to afford me a little space to ventilate the other side, for if this decision (which I cannot help but regard as a travesty of justice whatever it may bein law) be important to a wealthy squatter, what must it be to a man who has to earn his broad by thp ! sweat of his brow ? Lot me give a brief resume, of the faots m this case, I commenced to shear at the rate of 15s por hundred sheep fractional parts of the 100 to be paid m proportion, but after shearing 8&. I 16ft off work on account of boing interfered with by some of my follow- workmen. Defendant says it was only practical joking. Joking or not I found it impossible to work, so was forced to leave j but let that pass. I made no agreement to shear any given number, or stay any length of time. Defendant claimed a nonsuit on the plea that it was the custom to shear right through the shod or no pay. Now, Sir, lie admits that I am ah experienced shearer. Will he tell me how it is that m all my experience I CBTW met with Euch. a cujtom ?j

Will he tell mo also, how it was that ho discharged two men (competent men they were too) the day before I left ? Will he tell mo that it is tho custom of this or any other British colony (it might do m Russia) to doprive tho laborer of his just hire, and then take shelter from law and justice m a custom which exists only m his own imagination ? I am, &c, David Raitray. St. Andrews, April 15th, 1885.