COSTUMES IN COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 63, 14 March 1924, Page 8

COSTUMES IN COURT.

CRAZE FOR FOREIGN GOODS. LIKE A BARGAIN SALE. -'WHAT ARE FRENCH MODELS?" Ladies who never really feel properly dressed unless they are wearing French models, would have learned some interesting facts had they attended the -Magist rate's Court yesterday afternoon. | The scene was alike lo a bargain sale, as on the tabic near the witnesses' box 'were spread a uiiniln-r of dresses, for ! experts to express opinions upon. Mi ' F. K. Hunt, S.M.. who was on the bench. remarked: "We are getting s..m>- valuable information," to which Mr. Gouldling- replied: "Useful when considering I household account-, your Worship. ! Mr. Harold Elinor, however, put his j linger upon the most important point when he said: "It _-eems that when a thing is manufactured in New Zealand it is not worth half as much for selling purposes here as it would he if imported from abroad." *T_ this Mr. Hunt replied: "We an- not the first to discover , that." A French Confection. ! One witness was asked by Mr. Hunt: "I an you distinguish between a French confection—l fancy (hat's the word— ■and a locally-made article?" I -it's principally a matter of style and cut." was the answer. I The plaintiff. Bruce Sheppard, soft, '-.....Is agent (Mr. 11. Ennor) sought to recover from Miss Molly lioss, of Hamilton (Mr. Colliding) the sum of tilt 15/ alleged to be dtie for frocks supplied. ,I'laiittilT had done business with defendant to the extent of about £4110, and he was given two cheques of the face value of Cll4 I.V, which, upon presentation, were dishonoured by the bank. IA counter claim was entered for £200 for alleged breach of warranty. The whole matter revolved itself into whether certain dresses made in Auckland were sold by plaintiff to defendant as French models. i Mr. Sheppard said they were sold as ■"exclusive." but not as "French" models. Miss Rom whs just as positive that the goods were sold as French models. Made in Auckland. j Mr. Hunt remarked: "It is nice if ' these squatters' wives are thinking they arc buviiig exclusive French models and . really get dresses which were made in i Auckland." Mrs. -Mabel Lawrence slated that a number of the dresses produced in | Court were made at her establishment. Mr. Hunt: Look at that green one, please.. "Yes, 1 made that also." I "Very interesting,'' said His Worship, "seeing that we have been told it was evidently a French model, by its cut and the style of make." Mrs. Lawrence said Mr. Sheppard bought the dresses from her. and said he wished his client to be under the impression that they were French models. Prices and Profits. Mr. Colliding said for one dress Mrs. Lawrence's price was £1 10/ to Mr. Sheppard. His price to Miss Ross was £."> 19/; a costume bought at £7 was si.ld at £11 U/: another priced £7 4/ he sold at £11 11/; and another at £o 15/ was sold to Miss Ross at £10 10/. French Model Defined. Mrs. Lawrence explained that a French mqdel meant a dress made, not ouly from a French design, but also made in France. It did not mean a dress made outside France from a French fashion plate. j Mr Hunt: A French model would have a ticket on it "Made in France" for ! Custums purposes under the preferential I tariff. . i Mrs. Lawrence said she sold 22 trocks I to* Mr. Sheppard for bis Hamilton I "Hold that dress up," said His Worj A green creation was accordingly I lifted from the table, and Mrs. Lawrence, glaring at it. said: "l made that myself." "We were told." said Mr. Hunt "that only a French woman could have made .a (iress like that." Mrs Lawrence said that Mr. Sheppard hail since told her the goo.ls were sold to him as French models, but she at once denied that. French Model Tickets. In answer to Mr. Elinor witness said she reckoned to work on a 35 per cent basis of profit for the public. Mr. Sheppard asked her if she had French model tickets. The dresses she sold Mr. Sneppard she called exclusive models, i Some were copied from Fraiich fashion j plates. Corroborative evidence was given by Miss U. Smith, sister of last witness. Miss -Mary Hurley, general buyer toi John Court. Ltd.. 'said French models were made in France. That could not be put on goods made here from designs of French fashion plates. Mr. Ennor asked: "What would it have on the ticket then-." Mr. Hunt replied: "What the conscience of the maker permits him to put." (Laughter). Case For The Defence. Mr. Ennor: We admit goods were sold as exclusive model frocks. No representation was made at all that I these dresses were French models. Bruce Sheppard stated he bail been ! seven veal's iv business. He sold ! French goods to Miss Ross in August. i They were of French manufacture. On I November ."' and 5 Miss Koss made purchases in his sample room at Auckland ; in the presence of his 'assistant. -Miss j i Koss wanted frocks, and she had the ] ; opportunity then of taking or leaving \ them as the goods were priced in plain j figures on his own tickets. He j described the goods as exclusive frock models. These goods were sent to Hamilton. On the 20th, Miss Ross ! selected another eleven frocks, in his j sample room. In December he sold her eight more frocks at Hamilton. -Miss Koss chose these goods herself. Out of IS frocks submitted, she selected eight made by Mrs. Lawrence, and rejected ten of other manufacture. The eight dresses were sold as exclusive model frocks. Each frock had a ' separate ticket on. Witness agreed later to accept back £100 worth of goods from Miss Koss. When he presented the cheques drawn by Miss Koss. were not honoured. Corroborative evidence was given by an assistant of plaintiff, who was present when the sales were made in Mr. Sheppards sample room at Auckland. A Breach of Warranty. Mr. Hunt said the main question he had to decide was whether there had been a breach of warranty. He was quite satislied that there had been. Miss Koss had built up a fair business, dealinr; almost entirely with imported goods." Mr. Sheppard induced her to deal with him. She wanted French

I models, and the first lot he supplied. were those goods. Then he bought | goods locally made and sold them to I her, which was breach of warranty, I therefore, he held that Miss Ross was j entitled to recover on the counter- ; claim. J Mr. Ennor: I take it, sir. we are enI titled to recover on the two articlesV j Mr. Hunt said there would have to be a settlement of the amount to be | paid as on the value of goods made locally. She could have got the eight dresses from Mrs. Lawrence for £44 1(1/. but was charged by plaintiff £78 -/ for them. It was agreed that counsel should try Ia nd arrange what should be paid by ■ Miss Ross, and if they could not come jto an agreement. Mr. Hunt said. "Brint; I the matter to court again, and I will I settle it." =■-"-=___==