OIL FRAUDS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20091, 21 November 1930, Page 9

OIL FRAUDS.

ACTION AGAINST PIMENTAL. | | TBZBS Special aerrice.j j DUNEDIN, November 20. i An echo of the charges heard in Wellington recently against M. P. Pimcntal, carrying on business as the "Mecca Oil Company," was heard in {he Magistrate's Court this morning, when the case was called in which Leon F. Soper who was represented by Mr Ruilell, claimed to recover £92 9s Sd from M. P. Pimental, of Wellington. It was set out in the statement of claim that the defendant appointed theplaintiff his agent in Otago and Southland, agreeing to supply him with a first grade oil which was represented as coming from the Mecca Oil Company, United States. It was alleged that the defendant represented to plaintiff that he was the accredited agent of the Mecca Oil Company, California, and on the .face of this representation plaintiff paid the defendant £SO for oil and incurred certain expenses in securing a suitable place and setting himself up as defendant's agent, and in journeying to Wellington and Invercargill to complete arrangements for the taking over of the agency. Mr Ruffell said that the claim was an echo of what was now known as the Mecca oil frauds. The defendant started a.company in Wellington known as the Mecca Oil Company, and ho advertised that he was prepared to engage agents in various parts of New Zealand. The plaintiff made applu tion for the Otago ' territory, but as that was taken up he took the Southland territory, and had only paid £SO of the £2OO agreed upon when defendant was brought before t.io Court on a criminal charge. No oi! huu been supplied to the plaintiff. The plaintiff gave evidence- aloi.g these lines. , • *. The Magistrate informed counsel he would have to prove fraud by iirsLhand evidence. The Court could take no notice of what had happened c.scwhere or of what was reported in the papers. It seemed to him that evidence should bo taken in Wellington. On the application of Mr Buffcy 1.13 hearing was adjourned to December i to enable further evidence to be take::.