AN INTERESTING CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9692, 17 January 1910, Page 4

AN INTERESTING CASE.

A case of more than passing interest to sheepfarmers was heard at the Magistrate's Court last week in Masterton when Mcßae v. Moore was ! dealt with. We have no desire to j comment on the decision itself —ft j was nu doubt, in accordance with the law, but there is certainly a very plain moral to be drawn from it, namely, - that sheepfarmers and others, who employ a good deal of casual labour during certain seasons of the year, should exercise the greatest care in making their arrangements. In the case under notice comparatively litt e evidence was all that was necessary to render the defendant liable for the sum of £l7 and legal costs to an almost equal amount, while, we understand, that in consequence of the decision further claims arising out of the same circumstances will be , made against the defendant. T e evidence appeared to disclose tha the engaging of shearers is carried Dut in a somewhat haphazard fashion; but, of course, the law exists, and when cases are brought into Court the Bench with the evidence that it has before it endeavours to decide them in accordance with law and justice. It is of the greatest importance to the sbeepfarmer that his shearing shoulJ.be don 3 by a certain time, and i; is work that can only be perform d by experienced men. It seems, therefore, that some recognised system of engaging men for the work could be adopted with advantage. Assuming that a sheepfarmer agrees to employ shearers at a later date, and the men do not put in an appearance, in other words, do not keep faith with the would-be employer what redress can the latter obtain 7 It is possible that he might go to uourt and win his case, but probably the substance of the individuals that he would be aueing in a fair number of cases would not warrant the expenses of litigation, even if the employer for the sake of his own protection were prepared to undergo any unpleasantness that there might be in connection with I the prosecution of his case. It is clear, we should say, that the present | system, or rather lack of system, cannot be very satisfactory to either employers or employees. If there were a recognised channel from wh'ch to obtain men, and if the shearing work in the district could, in some manner, be divided up among experienced shearers, it would be better for both employer and employee. The more that the conditions of any industry are of a settled character the more satisfactory it is for all connected with it. It is said that further cases, similar to that to which we have alluded are pending, and if so we shall probably hear at a later date some discussion on the lines we have indicated.