COUNCILLOR FINED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 16

COUNCILLOR FINED

ASSAULT ON CARTER

ARGUMENT OVER CREAM From Our Oum Correspondent TE KUITI, Today. In the Te Kuiti Magistrate’s Court, before Mr. F. W. Platts, S.M., onSFriday, Samuel Pratt, farmer, of' Pukelumu Road, near Kopaki, was charged with assaulting Samuel Henry Clifton, carrier, of Kopaki, on October 29, “by grabbing him by the back of his jersey and threatening to punch him,” also with using insulting language. Plaintiff asked that defendant be bound over to keep the peace. Mr. H. T. Morton represented complainant and Mr. Mackersey appeared for defendant.

Complainant, in evidence,, said lie was cream carter for a dairy company. On the date in question he duly arrived at defendant’s gate at 8.30 a.m. to collect the cream. Previously, the defendant had complained regarding .the early hour for the removal of cream, and witness had therefore made the time 8.30 a.m. On the morning of the assault, defendant had been very abusive when told that 8.30 was the latest hour at which witness could call. Witness denied he had a grievance against Pratt, owing to the Waitomo County Council refusing to remit a penalty imposed on witness for being behind with a contract.

Evidence was given by Lionel Archer, regarding the language complained of. Witness knew that his (Archer’s) father had been one of those who had written to the Audit Department asking that defendant be unseated from the 'Waitomo County Council, of which he was a membe rof the Kopaki Riding. The magistrate said it was clear that defendant and his wife had a standing grievance against complainant. The language had been proved, and defendant had admitted the assault. Defendant was ordered to enter into a recognisance in his own surety of £25 to keep the peace toward complainant and was ordered to pay costs, £1 12s. A conviction was entered on the assault charge, a fine of £2, with costs £1 9s being imposed.