DEMOCRATS SUED

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 69, 18 September 1936, Page 3

DEMOCRATS SUED

EVIDENCE FOR BAULF THE AUCKLAND CAMPAIGN (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 17. The hearing was continued thi» afternoon of the case in which Harry Charles Baulf is claiming from official! of the former Democrat Party the balance of salary and expenses allegedly owing to him as Auckland organiser for the party. Mr. J. F. W. Dickson appeared for the plaintiff. Counsel for the defendants were Mr, A. K. North for William Goodfellow, Mr. H. J. Butler for A. E. Davy, Mr. A. St. Clair Brown for J. B. Donald, and Mr. B. Elliot for T. C. A. Hislop. Robert Alexander Denny, insurance inspector, said that Davy had approached him to tell him he was forming the new party. "He asked me would Ibe 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 money would come from Wellington. Baulf had asked at various times about Jhe 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 in the office," said witness. Under cross-examination by Mr. North the witness said that Goodfellow's early advances to cover »a> aries were in the nature of advances to the organisation to put it on its feet. Witness said that he knew nothing yo* any refunds to Goodfellow of the money he had advanced. Donald had paid into the Auckland trust account at the bank approximately £SO in June, £75 in July, and £125 in August Witness was not aware where the money was coming from. They were to have received £IOO a.month v

from Wellington. . ; Replying to Mr. North, the 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, by 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, Wellington, said he had become interested in the party some months after its inception. He was appointed Dominion secretary on March 28, l»3o. 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 F »fc Dickson: In the shadow Cabinet Mr. Donald was to be Minister of F The C witness said that £IOO a month was to have been paid to AncUanJ' but it was not always paid -regularly, Td to his knowledge theigW executive had never objected to Baulfs Hislop Had handed °wrthe balance of the £3200, what wouM have happened to these accounts?-These accounts would have been paid. Under questioning by Mr. North concerning the evidence of Hislop heard in Wellington, the witness said that it was definitely organisation money. i have no doubt of it," he said. Did you object to £IOOO going to

hj! At this. Mr. Elliot objected on the grouna! of irrelevancy. Mr. North was said that he did n °The P hearfn g was adjourned till Tuesday wpf> k-