FEATHERSTON S.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8392, 9 April 1907, Page 6

FEATHERSTON S.M. COURT.

A CROSS' CREEK CASE

An interesting case at the S.M. Court, Featherston, yesterday, was one in which Mrs Creelman sued three engine-drivers at Cross' Creek for £1 per week fof use of rooms. Mr Card appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr C. A. Pownall for the defendants.

According to the evidence, it appearedgthat some thirty-two railway employees were boarded at what they called "the barrack?," at Cross' Creak, which was leased by the Railway Department to Mrs Creelman for that purpose. < Being di-satisfied with the treatment they received as to board, bedroom linen, etc. (as they alleged), the men left in a body, but had to retain their steeping rooms as there was no other accommodation of the kind at the Creek. Mrs Creelman thereupon served notice upon the men that they would be charged £1 per week while they retained the use of their rooms. An enquiry was held by the Department, but with no result up to the date of hearing. The defendants swore' that the "tucker" was not wholesome, and that they had to use one towel for a fortnight between two of them; also that they had no option as the regulations compelled them to lodge in the Government "barracks." Mr Pownall said there was a technical liability to pay some nominal sum for the use of the rooms, but submitted that the whole thing was scandalous in the manner of treatment of hard-working railway men. Mr W. P. James, S.M., said that the men would have to pay something, but in the circumstances he thought that five shillings per week each was sufficient.