DEMOCRATS SUED

Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 September 1936, Page 10

DEMOCRATS SUED

AUCKLAND ORGANISER

ALLEGED BALANCE OF

SALARY

LEADER'S POSITION

(By Telegraph— Press Association.J . AUCICLAND, This Day. A sequel to the General Election was heard in the Magistrate's Court today i when several well-known personalities ' of what was the Democrat Party were sued by Harry Charles Baulf, political organiser, claiming to recover from them a balance of salary and expenses allegedly owing for his work i as Auckland organiser for the party, j Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., was on the Bench. Mr. J. F. W. Dickson appeared for the plaintiff, Mr. A. K. North for (William Goodfellow, who was in court, Mr. H. J. Butler for A. E. Davy, who was not present, Mr. A. St. Clair Brown for J. B. Donald, who was present, Mr. B. Elliot for Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, who was not present but whose evidence, taken at Wellington, was commented on by Mr. Dickson. The plaintiff claimed that the defendants were the officers of an incorporated body known as the New1 Zealand Democrat Political Organisation, of which the defendant, J. B. Donald, was chairman and Spencer Clark, also a defendant,- was secretary. The defendants Goodfellow, Davy, and Hislop were officers, or were on the executive. Baulf claimed that in October, 1934, he was employed by Davy at a salary of £7 a week, with expenses. He claimed recovery of £195, balance alleged to be owing. . . Mr. Dickson said that Baulf was engaged in 1934 by Davy, who said that Mr. Goodfellow would be finding £25,000—£5000 himself, two others £5000 each, and he was arranging the balance. Mr. Goodfellow subsequently confirmed this, saying he would finance the Auckland executive for at least six months. , , Proceeding, Mr. Dickson said that Mr Goodfellow continued payments for some months until he fell out with Davy and resigned. •■' ' "The position of Mr. Hislop is an extraordinary one," said Mr. Dickson in commenting on Mr. Hislop's evidence taken in Wellington. "Mr. Hislop said he would devote his life and talents to the service of his country and the cause of the Democrat Party. He in fact received £3250, of which he alleges he was to receive: £ 1000 for himself and three payments of £100 per month." This v apparently, was done, said Mr. Dickson, to placate his partners for the time spent for the Democrat Party. Mr. Hislop admitted only having received two monthly payments of £1001 -■■ ■ Mr. Elliot: He admits nothing. Mr Dickson contended that as a member of the party Mr. Hislop was partly liable for this debt. Mr. Elliot said that the statements made by Mr. Dickson were incorrect. Mr. Dickson said that as far as Mr. Goodfellow was concerned he and Davy entered into an agreement in 1934 whereby. Davy was to receive £1250 a year for three years, and the committee was to be Davy, Mr. Goodfellow, and two nominees of Mr. Gooo fellow. The case is proceeding.