PAIR OF TROUSERS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1925, Page 4

PAIR OF TROUSERS

BOWLERS AT VARIANCE. PROCEEDINGS IN COURT. WELLINGTON, February 9. Whether the Wellington Bowling Club wa.s justified in expelling from membership r.ne of its members ns a result of certain incidents which occurred on the green on March 18 last "’as the main question involved in a Supreme Court case opened before Mr .Justice Ostler to-day. Tile plaintiff, James Dickson Siovwright, journalist-, c.f Wellington proceeded against the deiciidant club lor £23 ■ ioniinal damages, and asked that Ids expulsion be declared null and void. The ease arose out of someone cutting i Inin tiff's trousers on the green, following which a disturbance occurred, plaintiff, it is stated, having accused one J. Hvaiiis of having performed the act. As a result of subsequent incidents, plaintiff was expelled from tho club, after having been called on by the directors to apologise for having allegedly struck at Hyiniis. The ease was keenly interesting to local howlers. In erosc-oxaminatieii by Mr Myers, plaintiff denied that lie was an angry man when lie found bus trousers mutilated. He was cnly annoyed. In a remark outside lie was only poking fun at the match committee. Mr Myers: Do you seriously suggest to his Honor that yon said it joking-

Witiicvs: Will it was more in sorrow than in anger. Mr Myers: That duos not answer my question. Witness: It was said jokingly, ns I said in a letter. I did nut for a moment believe any member of tiio match committee bad done n. Mr Myers: Then why did you do it? Witness: We sometimes do things we don’t mean. Oh, do we? Tf you saw that Mr I [yams resented the remark why did you put it to him and suggest lie 1ui,.l done it? —lt was not putting it up t.o Mr Hymns in a direct way. I said it was very like the act of a man who hid another chap’s howls to prevent him playing with them. liecati :e they belonged to the club. Did you not mean Hymns when you said that?—Ye.s, Were you still joking when you suggested Hymns did it?—T said it was like a eertr.iu action. I was still joking. He could take it to himself if he wanted to.

Do you still say it was a joke?— Well, if you had been there you would have laughed.

f am sorry you have such a poor opinion of me. Hymns did not treat it as a joke; he called you a liar?— He railed me a damn liar. Mr Myers: He was not joking then. He seemed to he telling you the trutifc Witlness: 'Wibu.t! When he called

me a liar? Withio.-js said the howlers on 'the green were laughing at the affair, though he saw it was getting serious He may have called Hymns “a miserable pimp,” hut ho was not sure it was the language one member should use to another, nor should cue member cut another’s trousers. Counsel asked if it was not a. fact that plaintiff would have been expelled in 1920. but fo Mr Saleh's friendship towards, him. Plaintiff said he never heard of it. Mr Myers: You were nearly expelled ill 1920 were you not? Witness: I don’s think so. in 1921 they sang that 1 was a jolly good fellow, and sent me away with the bowling team. I was a great chap, yes. ‘‘l would like to consult some of the others about that,” rejoined counsel, who then asked whether it was not a. fact that in 1920 plaintiff had to apologise to the club for his conduct. Plaintiff replied: “Oh, yes. that’s right, because' there was a difference oven tillo selection of men playing matches, but that lias nothing to do with this case.” Mr Myers: That is not for you to nay. Plaintiff: Well, T am saying it. The ease is unfinished.^