BUSINESS METHODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19719, 19 August 1927, Page 9

BUSINESS METHODS.

CLAIM FOR MONEY LENT. CHIEF JUSTICE'S CRITICISM. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Thursday In the Supreme Court to-day the Chief Justice, Sir Charles Skerre'tt, commented on the manner in which certain businesses were conducted, when delivering his judgment in the case in which Mrs. Dorothy Levin, of -Wellington, claimed £315 14s from Mark Lees, ladies' tailor, also of Wellington. Mrs Levin had stated that she lent to Lees,'the defendant, £686 in two instalments, in order to settle a case in the Supreme Court Lees was to repay only two-thirds of the loan, because the proceedings which were threatened against him also affected Mrs. Levin to a certain extent. Lees cave money and goods to Mrs. Levin amounting in value to £l4l. Mrs. Levin claimed the balance, £315. Lees, in his defence, said that the £686 was lent to Harry Levy, a former partner of Mrs. Levin's, in a ladies' outfitter's business, and when the partnership was dissolved between Mrs. Levin and Levy' the total of £315 had been repaid. "I feel that I am not doing any injustice 'bv entering judgment for the plaintiff for the amount claimed," said His-Honor. "This has been one of the most unsatisfactory cases that, has ever come, before me as a Judge, and quite as unsatisfactory as any case I have been concerned in as counsel "It is difficult to know where the whole truth lies. I think it would require a new Solomon to unravel the curious statements on both sides. "I will abstain from saving anything about the method of conducting business. except that it seems to me to be a real danger to the community None of the business was conducted in the name of the proprietor All the proceedings were conducted undci some other names, or under the name of the wife 1 venture to sav that the system is one which is not conducive to fair and honest trading." fri conclusion His Honor said: I hold that the plaintiff has established her case, and that she is entitled to judgment It would have suited my inchna tion much better if I could have said. 'Bustle all these people out of Court ' Indeed. I thoucht at one time that I should be forced to that conclusion But having r-arefnllv reviewed the evidence I do not think I would be doing justice to my position if I did not give effect to the conclusion at which I have arrived.