A CROOK CLAIM.

NZ Truth, Issue 131, 21 December 1907, Page 5

A CROOK CLAIM.

ROUSE AND HURRELL'S ON j THE HUSTLE. Henry Wright's Bum-Bailiff Agency. A Gross Attempt at Overcharging. Of Henry Wright and his debt-col-lecting agency, "Truth" m the past has had a great deal to say, and nothing m the shape of a testimonial of good character was given Wright and his concern either. Henry Wright and his belLtopper is quite a sight m this sinful city, it (the hat) is as well-known as the Post Office clock, while his "hum" agency stinks m the nostrils of all true and liege subjects of Edward Rex. Of the Commercial Agency, Ltd., and the dirty 1 dodges it resorts to m order to bamboozle timid folk into paying debts, whioh often should never have been contracted, and which often are disputed and do not deserve to be settled, "Truth" has spoken pretty plainly at times, and drawn the attention of the authorities to it and other like concerns with the very happy result that such dodsrery m future will he considered an offence, aitd promptly punished. This week, however, a little move attention .must he bestowed on Henry Wright's little dodgery, as set forth m his illuminated dun notice to debtors. Moreover, m conjunction with the wrong, very muoh WRONG, MR WRIGHT, "Truth" wants to have a few words with the Rouse . and Hurrell Carriage Building Co., over what seems a very sharp practice m connection with overcharging for repairs done and the subsequent handing over of t , the debt to Wrieht's wretched bum bailiff concern. Some time ago an expressman, whose name need not be mentioned, had his express repaired by the Rouse and Hurrell people, and was duly charged for the repairs. The sum of £1* 10s was paid and a receipt siened Edwin C. Harvie was given the expressman, which left a balance due of 10s. What happens next. The expressman is billed by the Co, for the' sum of £2 ss. This, of course, he did not pay, and waited. Evidently Rouse and Hurrell got sick of waiting and put it down a had debt, and sold it or gave it away, or something cf the sort, to Wright's concern, which lost Utile time m billing thc man concerned, and he was duly served with a, lurid paper, which demanded the payment of £2 5s within seven days otherwise legal procecclin!Tß would be taken. Now, what "Truth" wants to know is what little game is the firm of Rouse and Hurrell up to ? ' The repairs to the express were done on July 12. The receipt of £1 10s on account, leaving a balance of 10s due is dated July 13, and at the end of the month, the firm bills the owner of the express for £2 ss, and next Wright's concern pomes to light with a similar demand. The chance of getting £2 5s out of the expressman is Buckley's. All he owes is 10s, and what Rouse and Hurrell and Henry Wright, of the debt-collecting agency proposed doing fif they got it) with that £2 5s is best known to themselves. Of course it might be urged that it WAS ALL A MISTAKE on Rouse and Hurrell's part, but surely to goodness if a man is given a receipt out of a block for £1 10s, a record of it is kept on the butt. Anyhow, whatever it is, Rouse and Hurrell's don't cut much ice, and if this is a sample of their business methods this publicity of their slipshod methods is not warranted to further their business. Of course, Henry Wright's bum show isn't particular whether the debt is a just one or not. His blanky troubles ! Anyr how, he and his concern, Rouse and. Hurrell must now look foolish. Anybody who has dealings with Hen-j ry Wright deserves to be made look foolish. These bum-bailiff agencies ought to he carefully scrutinised toy the authorities. They are for ever up to shady and dirty tricks, and the insulting epithets that are occasionall*^ hurled at these concerns are justified.