Chapter Ninety Four: The Labor Assembly of the Kenwit Flasks Ltd.

Meanwhile, the trial of the century enters its tenth day of hearing before the Judicial and Bar Council in its exercise of the extended authority of the Commission on Appointments.

"Your Rightful Honors, the petitioners will call a representive from the makers of the Kenwit Flasks to the witness stand, to further explore the inherent and practical interpretations of the Treaty of Gawkins, as it applies to this particular Cause of Action."

"The said witness will now take the stand," the Chairman announced with a dull voice.

The witness is the Chief Labor Negotiator of the Labor Assembly of the corporation that operates the manufacturing factory of the Kenwit Flasks, which received its own Royal Charter from the solemn powers of the Principality.

He took his place at the witness box, and the petitioner's Barrister quickly approached the bench for the direct examination of their witness.

"Please state your name and position held," the Barrister said.

"I am Joseph Crawlworths, the Chief Labor Negotiator from the Kenwit Flasks Limited. I am here today by virtue of the effect of the Subpoena Duces Tecum Ad Testificandum issued on my name."

"Yes, the request for your Subpoena has been requested by the petitioners of this case. Mr. Crawlworths, can you tell us in all honesty if the tariffs imposed by the Tenth Kingdom has affected your company in any substantial way?"

The witness nodded his head. "It did affect the sales of our flasks, but the actual profit and loss ledger will only be ascertained towards the end of the year. But if you are talking about our regular supplies to the South Kingdom, which is part of our big merchant accounts, then yes. It affected us in a significant manner."

"Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Crawlworths. Do you think that this present situation where tariffs are indiscriminately imposed without due process will ultimately affect the working class specifically in your region?"

The witness agreed sincerely. "Yes. This is a fair assessment."

"Right," the Barrister acknowledged the answer. He turned to his notes to continue his questioning. "Do you think that when a commercial policy adversely affects the working class in any of the domains of the Commission on Appointments, this is tantamount to a gross neglect of the provisions of the Treaty of Gawkins?"

"Objection!" the Counsel for the respondents was quick to protest. "This is not an expert witness."

"The objection is sustained," the Chairman said. "The Barrister will rephrase the question."

"Of course, I will change my question, Your Rightful Honors. Mr. Crawlworths, will a loss in corporation profits eventually affect the wages paid to the working class?"

"Yes."

"And do you think this condition is tantamount to economic injury, an adverse situation that the Treaty of Gawkins is trying to protect when linked with these indiscriminate tariff impositions?"

"Yes."

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