FATHER v. SON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12652, 4 November 1910, Page 5

FATHER v. SON.

(Per Press Association.) ', WELLINGTON, Nov? 3. A somewhat unusual civil action was heard in the. Magistrate's Court this morning before Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M., when G. T. Croft, of Petone, builder, claimed £48 15s from his son William Croft, of Waituna West," Feildmg, also a builder. Plaintiff alleged that his son owed him 42 weeks' board and lodging at 16s a week from April, 1906, to February 1907, for washing at Is 6d a week for the same period. £10. money alleged to have been lent, afld £2 for fishing-tackle and a rifle said to be left with defendant for sale. . Mr Peacock appeared for the. plaintiff, and Mr T. M. Wilford for defendant. Plaintiff's case was that his son had lived with him from 1903 to the end of 19015, when Croft Jun. went to England, returning in April, 190©, "practically penniless;" said counsel. He camp to his father and asked the latter to keep him. His father agreed to take the wanderer home again on the same terms as before—l6s a week—but^ said ho would not press for payment until his son waa in a position to "pay. Defendant was now earning £4 a week as clerk of works for the Wanganui Education Board. Plaintiff nearly fainted durirfg cross-examination byi counsel for the defendant, and had to retire/ The case for the defence was that Croft, Jun., had always paid his board. The £10 claimed as "money lent" -vvas really owing to him by his father as architect's fee in drawing plans of a house owned I>V Croft, Sen., after he had nsl-ed for the usual fee of £12 10s. That defendant himself had to provide for the family after • ?->laintiff had turned them out; that the "wnshing" had never been paid by plaintiff at all; and that the fishing-tackle and rifle had not been sold by defendant, but were left where plaintiff 'had deposited them. After hearing the evidence, without the two witnesses for the defence being called. His Worshin jrave judgment for the defendant, with "costs, arid expenses totalling £6 7s.