Going head to head

Today the state’s bureaucratic arm does its best to mediate in employment disputes. In earlier eras the courts were more readily involved. So, too, were

the fists.

In May of 1931, in the Morrinsville Court, William James Spargo, farm hand sued his former employer, Maurice Tweed McGregor, a Walton farmer, for 20 pounds. Spargo charged breach of contract, unpaid wages and assault.

Spargo had worked for McGregor for over three years. In September 1927 a verbal contract was agreed to: a base wage of 25 shillings plus an additional bonus of 8 shillings per week for the season should Spargo’s work be deemed satisfactory.

Spargo claimed that on January 9, 1931, as he was stripping cows postmilking, McGregor entered the cow shed and inquired as to why one particular animal had been let go.

Dissatisfied with the answer he received, employer then set upon employee, punching him four times in the head and grabbing him by the throat. Twenty minutes later McGregor was said to have given Spargo a week’s notice. The season bonus was not subsequently paid.

Spargo conceded that he had a reputation for being argumentative but ‘‘only when he was in the right’’. He admitted that he had accused McGregor of ‘‘calling him a liar’’ and after receiving the first blows having picking up a prop to defend himself, indicating to his employer that he was going to ‘‘knock him flat’’.

J. N. Graves, a former worker on the farm, testified that he had seen McGregor hit Spargo eight times then

attempt to choke him. Graves stated that the farmer was ‘‘hot headed’’ and that arguments with staff occurred almost daily.

For his part, McGregor admitted slapping Spargo three times with an open hand but only after being threatened with the prop. Three defence witnesses testified as to Spargo’s character, alleging that he was prone to getting into disputes with his fellow workers, used frequent bad language and often threatened others with violence.

The presiding magistrate sided entirely with the employer, stating Spargo ‘‘only got what he deserved’’. The costs awarded, inclusive of legal fees and witness expenses, were over 8 pounds.