CLAIM FOR £3000

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28524, 1 March 1958, Page 2

CLAIM FOR £3000

Profits On New Car Sales (New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 28. Defendant in a civil claim based on the introduction of Skoda cars to the New Zealand market, which is being heard in the Supreme Court, Wellington, denied from the witness box today that there had ever been a business association between him and plaintiff. Any discussions between them were only friendly talks and did not entitle plaintiff to any payment whatsoever, he said. This was so. even though it was thought by plaintiff that two district franchise holders had received their franchises.

The defendant, Harold Edmund Collie, who is described in the papers before the Court as trading as R. W. Cameron and Company, said he was now employed as consultant to the company but no longer had a share in it. The action is a claim by Sidney Victor Wright, a salesman, for £3OOO for breach of contract. Wright alleges that he assisted Collie to obtain the New Zealand franchise for Skoda cars and that he was to receive half of the profits of all commission moneys paid to Collie on the importation of the, cars. He had not done so. The New Zealand franchise had since passed to., another firm. Opening the defence today, Mr J. C. White said, it was denied that there was any agreement to share profits as alleged. Collie did intend to make payment to Wright when arrangements to import cars were completed in 1954. but it was only then that Wright made his claim fot 50 per cent. Collie treated it as completely unreasonable. Matters were investigated and it was found that Wright had done things without Collie’s knowledge and had gone

to all lengths in support of his claim. His actions had disentitled him to make a claim.

Collie was under cross-examin-aion by Mr W. E. Leicester, counsel for Wright, when the Court adjourned. No date was set for the resumption of the hearing.

Chemical Increases Rubber Yield.— A weed-killing chemical developed in the United States is increasing the yield of rubber trees in the Far East. It is called 2-4-D, and is normally used by gardeners to kill dandelions and other broad-leafed weeds. During the last five years the United States Rubber Company has be&n testing the chemical as a growth stimulant on rubber trees in Malaya and Indonesia. The company reports that the chemical has increased latex yields by as much as 25 to 40 per cent., and has rejuvenated older trees. —New York.