WORK ON SUNDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1920, Page 5

WORK ON SUNDAY.

A FARMER TILLS THE SOIL. A FINE INFLICTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Alexander Ellis, a smalt farmer, was fined in the city police court to-day hy Mr. Batholomew, S.M., for working in his paddock itdjxecnt to the Kaikora! Valley Road on last Sunday. It was stated that, the defendant, aftc-r waiting til) the church bell cpa«ed ringing, went io work drilling, manuring, and sowing turnips with p team of two horses, assisted by a small boy. The work that was being done by Ellis could have been done during the week, but Ellis stated emphatically that as he had been delivering his milk and doing other necessary work all the week, and as the season was a late one, it was absolutely essential that he should g»t his turnips in as soon as possible. He admitted, however, that lie liad worked on the two previous Sundays also.

His witnesses (small farmers, too), agreed that, Sabbath or no Sabbath. Ellis wns in all circumstances justiiled in taking advantage of the weather eonditions, which had been all too rare this summer.

Mr. Batholomew, giving his decision, -■aid that a magistrate in the North Island had held that farming operations did not come within the provisions of the Aot. He (Mr. Batholomew), however, did not consider this decision a sound one. In regard to the present case, he said (he question arose as to whether the work came within the proviso relating to necessary work. No douht a good defence could he put up at any time in the ease of farming, and gardening. However, defendant, liad failed to satisfy him that the wyrk being done was of great urgency. Further, he had in take into consideration the fact that Ellis ha<l worked on two previous Sundays. Defendant would he convicted but it was not a case for a heavy nenallv. A line of 5s with eosts would he inflirtcd.