MASTER AT COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1933, Page 8

MASTER AT COURT

BOY WHO WAS “BUMPED.”

ACTiON TO BE RETRIED. LONDON, May IS An action which arose out-oi a boy’s le.t oiuovv being fractured wiien no was bumped in’ a park by school fellows has come before the Court of Appeal. • The boy, La‘rente Alex, aged 12. who sued wirouglr his father, Alexander Alex, successfully appealed against, tile dismissal of his claim for damages against the llev. H. J. Re:ridge, headmaster and proprietor of a 1 school at VV embley

If was stated; that the boys were divided into sides and awarded stain .or good conduct and-black-marks. f°i" bad conduct. If' a 1 boj' was responsible for his side losing, the headmaster told the other hoys it was-up to them "to deal with’ him.- Such an incident,: it was alleged, led to the bumping of Alex, whose' arm was-permanently shortened in consequence" of * the injury.

Mr W. Monckton, K.C.; for Mr Kerridge, submitted' there was no evidence that the headmaster was aware of any system of bumping and no evidence of 1 bumping or any other corporal ■ punishment'by the boys, except on.the' occasion when Alex was- injured; ■ MrKerridge had not’ given the buys authority to punish Alex. Lord justice Scnrtton: When I wa» at school, hoys had a habit, when they diy approved o. another’s behaviour, oi nulling, lym run the gauntlet* of knotted luliifjkyi'cjljieis. Would- that <be covered by tiie pflmse “deal with linn?” - Mr Monckton: I submit not. I say' that “deal with him” does not involve hitting the boy. Lord Justice Scrutton, giving judgment allowing the appeal and ordering a new trial; said he had come to the conclusion that there was a case for Mr Kerridge to answer. There was evidence that; in consequence of the announcement every three weeks ol whether the .“greys”, or “purples” had won, there had grown up among the■ boys a practice of' ‘“dealing,” by bumping, with a boy who had let down his side.

i “Bumping is a somewhat historical institution in England,” continued the ijiidgb, ' “brief *is lS 'Sveff "known that,' when' processions take place at parish boundaries., stiiull boys are bumped on stones.to, ihje'ir memories the boundaries of the parish. There is no doubt in niy mind that the unanswered evidence in this case shows that' small boys, having Been told to: “deal with” one who had let .his. sjde down, had established some sort of irregular system of bumping'a defaulter. That their ideqs of justice were not complete', is shown by the .evidence that, oirtiffe day in question, they bumped a boy from each-sidr. I .* . r M»r

The Court ordered a new trial of the action, .Mr; Kerridge to; piny! the costs of the previous hearing- ancl, of the appeal. \ i ■„ ,