"JAZZ EVENING."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 222, 19 September 1929, Page 8

"JAZZ EVENING."

FOR EARTHQUAKE FUNDS. MAYOR SUES PROMOTERS. WERE CONDITIONS OBSERVED? (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The promoters of a "jazz evening* held in the Town Hall on July S, in ai( of the earthquake relief fund, wen defendants in a claim brought in the Magistrate's Court to-day by the Mayor as trustee of the fund. The defendants were Charles Forresi and Morris Domb. The claim set out that- defendant: were granted permission to use the Towi Hall for a dance, on condition that al the proceeds were paid into the fund: that defendants later paid to the plaintiff £40 3/6, which they alleged represented all the proceeds of the function with the exception of the certain con tingent liability; and that the profit: of the function amounted to £138 10/11 : being £98 7/5 more than the amounl paid by the defendants. The claim was for the balance. Counsel for the plaintiff enumerated the charges, including payment foi seventeen musicians. • Mr. E. Page, S.M.: They may hav< mismanaged the show, and may have been extravagant, but that does not entitle you to more than the net proC6eds. He asked if the defendants had dishonestly returned a lesser amount than they received. Counsel: I don't want to make accusations of dishonesty. The Mayor of Wellington said the arrangement was that the hall should be made available, provided all the proceeds, except advertising charges, went to the earthquake fund. After the dance a cheque for £40 3/6 was handed to him. There was no statement with it, and he refused to accept it without a statement. A day or two later he received a statement, which he handed to the city solicitor. Witness told Forrest he was dissatisfied with the ' organising charge" of £10 10/, and if he had known such a charge would be made the hail would not have been available. Later he received a cheque from Forrest s solicitors for £10 16/5. _ Cross-examined, Mr. Troup said he knew nothing previously of Forrest s honesty or capability, but he had nevei been "taken down" before in a case of national disaster, and he did not think anyone would take advantage of it. The custodian of the hall told him the day after the dance that there should be a big addition to the fund, for the crowd was one of the biggest he had seen there.