CLAIM AGAINST DEMOCRATS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 303, 18 September 1936, Page 9

CLAIM AGAINST DEMOCRATS

Second Day’s Hearing DETAILS OF PARTY ‘FINANCES Auckland Organiser’s Case By Telegraph— Press Association Auckland, September 17. The second day’s proceedings i'n th« .case in which Harry Charles Baulf is claiming from officials of the forme: Democrat Party the balance of salary and expenses allegedly owing to him as -* Auckland organiser for the party occupied the attention, of Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. . - - Mr. J. F. .W. Dickson appeared for plaintiff. Counsel for defendants were Mr A. K. North for Willfem Goodfellow, J. Butler for A. E. Davy, Mr. A. St. Clair Brown for J. B. Donald, and Mr. B. Elliot for T. C. A. Hislop. Plaintiff, examined by Mr. Butler., who is appearing for Davy, said he was engaged by the United Party in 1928. He had not been fuUy paid. • This was the first time he had made a claim, against Davy personally. When he was engaged in October there was no Democrat Party. He regarded Davy and Goodfellow as partners in the movement He knew that Davy was also paid by Goodfellow. He denied that his original agreement with Goodfellow was for him to be paid £4 a week. Relations were then becoming strained between Goodfellow and Davy. He received £4 a week from Goodfellow and £2 by the organisation. In June he was given an assurance of payment. Cross-examined by Mr. Elliot, who is appearing for Hislop, Baulf said he looked to the Dominion executive for payment. He considered Hislop, a member of the Dominion executive, as a prospective leader. Hislop first came into the picture in July. He joined . Hislop as a defendant on legal advice. He understood that some debts were paid by Hislop. Mr. Dickson: You rang Mr. Hislop on the telephone once? “Was Very Rude.” Baulf: Yes. I asked him for an advance, as I knew he had £lOOO of the party funds. He was very rude to me and said he would see me in hell before he would give me a cent. Mr. Elliot objected to further questioning on this line, on the ground that Hislop had not the chance of being cross-examined on the point Mr. Dickson mentioned that Hislop was at present arranging to put his financial commitments with the Democrat Party to arbitration. Robert Alexander Denny, insurance inspector, who was the next witness, said that Davy had approached him to tell him he was forming the new party. "He asked me would I be in. I said, ‘Yes, provided the finances are all right’ ”At a subsequent meeting the organisation known as the Democrat Party was formed and in April or June, 1935, witness became treasurer and a member of the Auckland committee. He acted in an honorary capacity. Baulf was supposed to put in statements of his accounts fortnightly. Those statements were put before the committee, of which Donald was chairman. Baulf had raised the question Of money owing to him before Donald, and Donald had said that it would be paid, but that Baulf would have to wait. It was generally understood that the I money would come from Wellington. Baulf had asked at various times about the money and had always been told it would be paid. The accuracy of the figures had not to witness's knowledge, ever been challenged. “Where are the books now?” asked Mr. Dickson, referring to the question ' of the accounts. * "Oh, I don't know. I last saw them in a drawer in a desk m the office.” said witness. Advances to Organisation. Under cross-examination by Mr' North, witness said that Goodfellow’s early advances to cover salaries were in the nature of advances to the organisation to put it on it/? feet. Witness said that he knew nothing of any refunds to Goodfellow of the money he had advanced. Donald had paid into the Auckland trust account at the bank approximately £oo in June, £75 in July and £125 in August. Witness was not aware where the money was coming from. They were to have received £lOO a month frojn Wellington. Replying to Mr. North, witness said that Baulf put in a list of his expenses each month. He was paid irregularly. Denny was questioned by counsel concerning the books of the organisation. They had been kept, he said, ny Miss Foster. He had asked about the books following the election, and had been told that she did not know where they were. Spencer Bruce Clark, public accountant, of Wellington, said he had become interested in the party some months after its inception. He was appointed Dominion secretary on March 26, 1935. Minister of Finance. When further questions had been put regarding the finances of the party, Mr. Wyvern Wilson remarked, “It doesn’t look as though they had unearthed. anyone to be Minister of Finance.” Mr. Dickson: In the shadow Cabinet Mr. Donald was to be Minister of Finance. Witness said that £lOO a month was to have been paid to Auckland, but it was not always paid regularljA, and to his knowledge the Dominion executive had never objected to Baulf’s claim. If Mr. Hislop had handed over the balance of the £3200, what would have happened to these accounts? —“These accounts would have been paid." Under questioning by Mr. North concerning the evidence of Hislop heard in Wellington, witness said that it was definitely organisation money. “I hare no doubt of it," he said. Did you object to £lOOO going to him ? , ' At this, Mr. Elliot objected on the ground of irrelevancy. Mr. North was allowed to continue. Witness, answering, said that he did not approve. The hearing was adjourned till Tuesday week.