after he denied doing bodily harm to his son.

Lee Eugene Hall, of North Shore, Hamilton Parish, told Senior Magistrate Will Francis: "If my going out in the yard to cut down a spruce tree to correct my child is wrong, then that (the charge) is wrong.'' "We could probably save a whole generation of children,'' the father said.

"Assault? That's totally ridiculous. The courts are taking power from parents.

"When a child tells you `you can't touch me 'cause I will run you in', that's a travesty of justice.'' After setting a trial date on July 2, Mr. Francis told Hall: "You make your points very strongly, Mr. Hall. You can make them again in Mr. (Arthur) Hodgson's court on that day.''