ERECTION OF FLATS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 68, 14 December 1931, Page 12

ERECTION OF FLATS

Bricklayer Claims £754 WHO WAS EMPLOYER? Contending that Mrs. Alexis Maria Thirkell, wife of Hector George Thirkell, contractor, of Wellington, had been the employer concerned in the erection of a block of flats in Hawker Street, either jointly with her husband or by herself, Albert Victor Lamb, bricklayer, of Wellington, proceeded in the Supreme Court on Friday for the recovery of £754 allegedly owing by Mrs. Thirkell for work done in connection with the flats- Mr. Justice Blair was on the bench.

In the statement of claim, plaintiff alleged that he had executed work for the defendant, between July and October of 1930, and had Incurred charges amounting to £1234. Between August and October the defendant had paid £479 in reduction of liability, and the amount of £754 was stijl outstanding.

The defendant said that the flats were contracted to be constructed by H. G. Thirkell, her husband. If Lamb had done any work in connection'with their erection then he had done so as an employee or sub-contractor to her husband. She denied any liability to plaintiff, and denied also that she had paid him sums of money as coming from herself. She also denied that she had received any account from the plaintiff. Evidence was heard on Friday and Saturday morning, and counsel for delendant addressed the court before the adjournment. Counsel for plaintiff will make his submissions this morniag.