CLAIM AGAINST STAFF FUND

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24676, 20 September 1945, Page 6

CLAIM AGAINST STAFF FUND

* JURY FINDS FOR DEFENDANTS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE CENSURED (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 19. Returning a verdict for the defence in the Standard Insurance Company staff fund case, a special jury in the Supreme Court to-day censured the management committee of the fund for the manner of its action in amending the rules of the scheme. At the request of counsel for the plaintiff, Mr F. B. Adams, Mr Justice Kennedy granted a sine die adjournment to give all parties, and particularly the defendants, an opportunity to consider the verdict and the rider from the jury. The case was a claim by Henry James Grayson, former assistant general manager of the Standard Insurance Company, Ltd,, for £869 16s 3d against the committee of management of the permanent staff guarantee and provident fund, being the balance of the amount allegedly due to him on his resignation. The defendants were Arthur Hadfield Fisher, general manager, Edgar Christopher Hazlett, chairman of directors, and Joseph Albert Hey. accountant of the company Mr J S. Sinclair appeared for the defendants The jury’s rider was as follows: "The committee deserves censure for its failure to act fairly in the interests of all contributors when the committee altered the rules so materially in the year 1939. Furthermore, we consider that the proposed alterations should have been submitted to contributors for their approval. Such neglect on the part of the committee has resulted in grave injustice to the plaintiff”