MOWER CLAIM

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28888, 7 May 1959, Page 10

MOWER CLAIM

Director Further

Cross-Examined

A denial that he had “waved the big stick’’ at Pyramid Machines, Ltd., over accepting mowers that were breaking down was made by Walter Hean Price, managing director of W. H. Price and Son., Ltd., in the Supreme Court yesterday. The fortieth day of the hearing of the dispute between the two companies over the Pyramid hydraulic mower was reached yesterday, with Price’s eighth day in the witness box, and his fourth and final day in cross-examina-tion by Mr R. W. Edgley, counsel for Pyramid Machines. “Was your attitude that even if the mower was .failing, orders must be taken, and paid for?” Mr r igley asked Price. Whether agents took delivery of mowers or not, Price’s were looking for payment from Pyramid for what had been done. Price said. He admitted the mowers were causing trouble at this stage—“but we did not really know the causes.”

“You expected Pyramid to take these mowers and pay for them, even although you knew many had already broken down?” asked Mr Edgley. Price: We expected to be paid, whether they took delivery or not. And whether they broke down or not? —Yes, because the breakdown was not our responsibility. “Waving The Big Stick” “I suggest you were waving the big stick?” said Mr Eagley. Price: I don’t think so. No more than Mr Latimer. These Pyramid men were very small men? —Well, they pretended to be fairly big. You were a giant compared to them? —Not with what they pretended to be. His Honour: Would you, at that time, think Pyramid were comparable with your company financially and otherwise? Price: No, sir, I did not regard them as that big. Asked if he would not agree that Fraemohs’s advice to drop the project was partly based on 1955 failures and the difficulty of getting the mower to go. Price said: “I won’t agree with that, except it may have been due to difficulties in dealing with Mr Latimer.”

Mr Edgley: You regard Mr Latimer as an ogre, do you? Price: We had our difficulties at times.

“But you had them everywhere—you had them with Fraemohs. You understand it wouldn’t improve Mr Latimer’s liver to have all the mowers break down?” said Mr Edgley. Price: No. but I sometimes wondered whether he had a liver. (Laughter). Search for Advice

Would Price’s claim to look to the three Pyramid directors for guidance on technical hydraulic problems? Price was asked. Price: I think we did, in fact. Quite a bit.

Mr Edgley: W. H. Price and Son. hydraulic engineers, looked to these three machinery salesmen for advice on hydraulic technical matters?

Price: They sold themselves to us, sir.

Would you give these responsible Pyramid people a job in your works?

Price: Not now, sir. (Laughter). “What value have Pyramid Machines had for the £lO.lOO they have paid?” asked Mr Edgley. “A lot more than they’ve paid for.” said Price.

Mr Edgley: They’ve had a lot )f trouble. Price: So have we. Mr Edgley: What have they ’eally had?

“They’ve had a lot of service, a lot of help, much more than they were entitled to,” said Price. Mr Edgley: Do ypu really stand here as managing director, when you know and have admitted that the mowers weren't adequate, and consider you’ve been underpaid by receiving £lO,OOO for this job? Price: I do. Mr Edgley: Your conscience would not make you hand it back? Price: Not at alh