SHEARING CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19814, 4 December 1919, Page 8

SHEARING CASE.

AN IMPORTANT DECISION. A case of considerable interest, to sheepowners and shearers beard a t Amherley yesterday before Mr V. G. Day, S-Vl when uvn .shearers, George I Green ana Moses Brown, represented ! by Air Amodeo, instructed by Air Hunter, proceeded against Belcher Bros., who wore represented by Air Ei. W. j "White, for damages totalling £2l 7s for | broach of contract,, j The men were engaged in Christchurch to shear at defendants' farm, and arrived there at 9.30 next- morning, having stayed at Amherley overnight on account of darkness. The plaintiffs claimed that they laid the right, to their stand if they arrived at ; any time during the day (hat they j were to start work, and alleged that I the stands were full on their arrival. ■ The distance of the farm from Ainher- : loy is about; fifteen miles, ami could be | covered on a motor-cycle in a little ; over half an hour. The evidence for the defendants was to the effect that after waiting for (he plaintiffs until eight o’clock defendants filled one stand, and that when the plaintiffs arrived each in turn refuted ono stand which was vacant. The hour of starting work fixed by tho last shearers’ award, made on October 2-t last, is from o a.m. to 5.30 a.in. The Ain gist rate held that the men could have started, from Amherley at an early hour, and, _ having motorcycles, had no sufficient excuse for being four hours late. Each had moreover refused tho vacant stand offered and their claim therefore failed, .lodgment was given fot the defend:)jus. with costs*