DALMATIANS AT LAW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19496, 27 November 1926, Page 15

DALMATIANS AT LAW.

INVOLVED TRANSACTIONS.

ALLEGED LOAN OF £4OO

CLAIM AND COUNTER-CLAIM

A dispute between two Dalmatians at Henderson over certain transactions in work and cash came before Mr. Justice Adams in the Supreme Court yesterday. The plaintiff, Steve Yelas, vinegrower (Mr. Tov.ie), claimed a total sum of £431. The defendant, Andrew Sinkovich, farmer (Mr. Prendergast), denied liability and made a counter-claim for £350 16s 6d.

Yelas alleged that, believfng Sinkovich to be a man of substance, he lent him £4OO in June, 1924, for purchase of a motor-car, Sinkovich having told him he was temporarily short of cash. The loan was to bear interest at 5 per cent. Subsequently he lent Sinkovich a further £2O and paid £6 15s on his behalf for a fishing-net. Sinkovich also received £5 on his behalf and failed to account for it.

Sinkovich admitted receiving the £4OO, but set np a counter-claim for work done by himself and his two sons in Yelas' vineyard while Yelas was recovering from an operation for appendicitis, also for much time spent in adjusting certain domestic differences in the Yelas family. He alleged the purchase of the motorcar was financed by Yelas in order that he (Sinkovich) might be able to work regularly in the vineyard. The intention was that he and his sons should pay off the cost by work. Subsequently Yelas, in a fit of generosity, insisted on handing him £IOO He denied an allegation by the other side that this money had been paid and accepted in full satisfaction of his claim for wages. He repudiated the other items of the claim.

Mr. Towle submitted the claim for wages—24s a day for Sinkovich and 18s a day for each of his boys—was excessive. Yelas would state that the father spent a good deal of time in drinking the wine and the boys in eating grapes. Evidence for the defence was called first, Mr. Prendergast stating he had 17 witnesses. After two had been heard the hearing was adjourned.