ALLEGED SLANDER

Grey River Argus, 13 June 1933, Page 5

ALLEGED SLANDER

FORMULA SOLD THRICE. (P<‘r Press Association) WELLINGTON, .lune 12. A damages claim for £2,500 opened before Air Justice Ostler to-day, in which Reginald Charles Boddie, sales organiser, Wellington, alleges slander against James Dickson Sievwright, retired, also of AVellington. Plaintiff complains •of statements alleged to have been made falsely and maliciously l»y defendant to one, H. J. Lockyer, affecting plaintiffs credit and reputation, in connection with, the business of a syndicate for the manufacture of a chemical preparation, in which tho parties were associated. Mr O’Leary, counsel for the defence, said it would be submitted that statements were made on occasions qualified by privilege and without malice.

Plaintiff had advertised for someone with £5O to communicate with him. A Airs Miller lot Boddie have £5O on the s rity of tho formula. Later, plaintiff camo to Sievwright and obtained £lO, again pledging tho formula. After this plaintiff apparently sold another share to W. T. Neale. Gradually it was revealed to these three that each had paid for the same thing. A syndicate was then formed and the business proved unsatisfactory. Counsel then described, at some ength, how the formula had been prepared by Ruddle at Christchurch, and sold to the Compa-ny. The sale of the formula was a complete sale of all the rights connected with it, and was not restricted to the South Island. Air Arthur AfcKellar, Chairman of the Company, would give evidence to that effect, and also tha.t when Boddie was getting the money he was acting fraudulently. It was also alleged that plaintiff had borrowed money on chattels in Auckland, and sold the chattels, appropriating the money. Arthur McKellar, a public account: ant, of Christchurch, gave details of the purchase of the formula by a Christchurch company, which took the sole rights. The company was still going and not in financial difficulties. Tho plaintiff had no right to negotiate for the sale of the preparation. The hearing was adjourned.