A Former Employer of Mr. Seddon.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 11, 14 March 1908, Page 11

A Former Employer of Mr. Seddon.

An old man, ninety years of age, walked into the Crown office of the Law Courts, London, recently, and staggered the officials by setting down on the counter a voluminous document, which proved to be an affidavit. “What’s this 1” said one of the clerks. - “It is an action I am taking against the King, Crown, and Parliament of England for £20,000 damages for neglect, and I want to sue in forma pauperis,” said the old man. The official went through the document carefully, congratulated the old man on its regularity, and told him he would have an answer in a day or two. The prospective prosecutor of the King, Crown, and Parliament of England was once the employer of the late Premier of New Zealand, Mr Richard Seddon, and is now living in the obscurity of a London County Council lodginghouse. The

coming trial arises out of an action in Tasmania nearly twenty years ago. The old man—John W. Burt—was plaintiff, and there was some mistake in connection with the entry of the magistrate’s decision. This effected other litigation Burt was involved in, and finding the Colonial courts could not deal with the matter, the people of Tasmania subscribed and sent him to England to put his case before the House of Lords. The House of Lords referred him to the judicial committee of the Privy Council, who decided that they had no jurisdiction over petty sessions courts in Tasmania. Recently he put the matter in the hands of an eminent counsel, who advised that the best course was to bring an action for damages against the Crown. «><»<s>