GRANDFATHER'S GIFT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 65, 17 March 1934, Page 11

GRANDFATHER'S GIFT

CAR FOR BOY OF FOUR

CHANGE OF MIND FOLLOWS

Probably the youngest motor-car owner in the Dominion is Desmond Tutauha, a four-year-old Maori boy, of Normanby, who also holds the distinction of being the youngest plaintiff in a Court action at Hawera for many years, states a New Plymouth correspondent. Am interesting position was revealed in the -Hawera Magistrate's Court this week'when the boy's father sought to recover from the boy's: grandfather a motor-ear transferred to him byway of gift. . The plaintiff was-W. D. Tutauha, who was represented by his father, John Tutauha, in a claim against. Makevo Kerihoina. An application by Mr. Malone, for the defendant, for1 an ad■journment in order that he could advise

his client was objected to by Mr. Taylor, for the plaintiff, who said that possession of the ear wns desired, or, alternatively, £,5. Mr.! Malone said that the plaintiff need-have no fear of losing the car, as it would not go. The plaintiff was his son -and the defendant, was his father, said John Tutauha. The car was owned by. his son, aged four years. "This is .most extraordinary," said the Magistrate, Mr. J. H. Salmon, when the registration certificate was produced showing that the-child was the owner of the car." "What was the object of the transfer to a boy of four?" • ' Witness: That was my father's idea. He gave the ear to the boy. ."Well, what has he "done now?" asked Mr. Salmon. .-.••■• "He took it away some days after he had given it, "replied-witness. "Why did he take it back?"""asked Mr. Salmon.1 ' _ The reply was that the grandfather apparently repented of his gift. The "Magistrate: What is the value of this car? ■ . v." ■■"'-. ..' •: . , Mr. Taylor: It is shown at £5, but it is worth more. The object was to keep down costs. The Magistrate made an order for the return of the car. _