TELEPHONES FOR TAXICARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 12

TELEPHONES FOR TAXICARS.

COUNCIL BREAKS CONTRACT. DAMAGES OF £2 AWARDED. [BV TELEGn.Vnt.—OWN COURESrONJ>EN CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesdny. Judgment in the case in which C, S. Trillo sought to recover from tho Christciiurch City Council £172 10s. being £ll2 lO.s damages for an alleged breach of contract in connection with telephone, exchange connections, and £6O refund of fees paid, was given to-day by Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., who found for plaintiff for £2, in addition to £SO paid into Court. The magistrate stated that in pursuance of regulations made under tho Post and Telegraph Act, telephone exchange connections wilh strcot taxlcab stands in Christchurch woro made, and authority to sub-let tho connections to users of the stands was vested in defendant. On April 16 last plaintiff paid Hie fee of £2 each with respect to 30 vehicles and was granted permission to use the telephones until March 31, 1931. Defendant, by resolution on May 26, decided to abolish all taxi stand telephones from May 31, and they were disconnected. This action, in tho magistrate's opinion, amounted to a breach of contract on the part of defendant. Plaintiff then rented premises and installed telephones, and claimed as damages the expenditure so incurred. Mr. Young held that such damages were not in 'law recoverable. Plaintiff was, however, entitled to nominal damages, which ho fixed at £2. Plaintiff was entitled to £SO, being a refund of fees for tho unexpired portion of the term. This sum had been paid into Court by defendant.