EMPLOYEE KICKED.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 350, 3 February 1937, Page 5

EMPLOYEE KICKED.

Kohuratahi Farmer Convicted Of Assault.

When he was provoked by the alleged laziness of an employee a couple of kicks were administered by John Edward Shewry, a Kohuratahi farmer. As. 1 a result of the incident he was charged in the Stratford Court to-day with assaulting Robert Andrew Hart on Novemlber 30 and also with using Insulting language. Sergeant C. M. Anniss said that when Hart was 1 driving cattle defendant assaulted him. He kicked him and made use of the language complained of. Hart was only a young man and If defendant treated his employees in that way he would not have them long in his employ. Mr S. Macalister, for defendant, said Shewry was provoked by certain words used by Hart. "My client may be a bit of a rough diamond, but he' is one of the most

respected residents of Kohuratahi,” said Mr Macalister. He was albout 50 years of age and had not been before the Court before. Hart refused to work after 4 p.m. and that had provoked Sheiwry. Hart’s father was in Court and was prepared to say that his son wat addicted to bad lan-

guage. W. A. Hewitt, formerly inspector for the Farmers’ Co-op. Society, testified to defendant's good character. “You can dismiss a man but you

can t use your boot on him, although it is pretty hard to put up with laziness,” said the Magistrate (Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M.) Defendant was convicted on the

charge »t assault and ordered to pay witnesses expenses, £2/6/5. He was, convicted and discharged for using insulting language,