APPEAL FOR JUSTICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19485, 9 May 1933, Page 4

APPEAL FOR JUSTICE.

To the Editor or "The Timaru Herald.” Sir,—The Mayor of Timaru, while thanking the electors, appealed to the interrupters of his speech for “British fair play.” It is on the same plea I ask you to grant me space in your valued columns to air my just grievance. The facts are that on Thursday of last week, I was subpoenaed by the police to appear as the principal witness for the Crown in the potatostealing case. As I was working opt my unemployment allocation, I informed the foreman of the circumstances which would necessitate my absence

from the job. So far so good. Later, however, on receiving my pay I find 5/(half a day) “docked” off the amount due to me. On investigation I find that I could not be allowed to make up the half-day, and thus earn the 5/justly due to me under the scheduled allocation. Again, one of the other witnesses was allowed to work out the half-day he had also been “docked.” Why should flesh be given to some and fi:h to others? Is this justice beingmeted out to a law-abiding citizen, who was mainly responsible for a lawbreaker being brought to justice? Is this another case of the just being penalised for the sins of others? If not, I hope not a few public-spirited men in authority will adopt measures to have the matter rectified.—l am, etc., E. PRATTLEY. Timaru, May 6. (The Certifying Officer at Timaru states that the men are not entitled to be paid for any time off. In the cases referred to, both men notified the foreman that they required time off to attend the "Court, but neither made arrangements to work out the time off at a later date. Had they made some arrangements prior to leaving, no exception would have been taken to working the period later.—Editor of “The Timaru Herald”).