THE COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION AGENCY.

NZ Truth, Issue 156, 13 June 1908, Page 4

THE COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION AGENCY.

THE VARIOUS VAGARIES OF VANDA WHITE.

White Is Black In Miss Wright's Eyes*

HOW THE DAILY PAPER ADVERTISEMENT DID THE TRICK.

Is White a Swindler and a Woman Bilker?

Rosina Wright, tailoress, sued "Vanda White, business agent and debt collector, m the Magistrate's Court on Thursday, before Dr. McArthur, for the sum of £30,, on the grounds that defendant had induced her to enter into partnership with him m Wellington under the style of "The Commercial Arbitration Agency" and to pay to him the sum of £30 for o.ie^third share m the profits of the said business by fraudulent representation. Mr Von Haast appeared for plaintiff and JMr Levvey for defendant. Rosina Wright, tailoress, stated she sa\r an advertisement m the "Evehiag Post" as follows : — "WANTED, Lady, learn management of Organising Office ; salary with share profits ; must invest £50.— Organise, "Ever ing Post." Witness answered^ the advertisement and i asked for particulars. In response she received a letter dated April 4th and saw defendant at his office m Willisstreet. Defendant said he would like her to enter the office as a' young lady to learn typewriting and office work. ishe would have to pay £30 down and she would receive 30s per .week, a commission and one-third share of the profits. He said the business was an organising business. The agreement was that she put down the £30 as a bond and that if she remained six months she had to receive £15 back. He said the business was one of buying and selling and tliat there was £50 coming m that day, ar.d sometimes £200, £300 and £400 pet week. He also said he had canvassers i travelling Jpr him, and an office m Christ* church and Dunedin. He also spoke about taking an office m Palmerston Nofth! Ho said Wellington was to be the chief office and that he had been m Wellington three or four months. WIJITE WANTED £50, but witness said she had only £30, and he said that he would accept that. Witness wanted to see a lawyer before she paid , the money m order" to have a witness to tne payment of the amount. Defendant smiled and said it was not necessary to have a lawyer for £30. It was not necessary unless she had £100 to pay. Witness paid the £30 and received the receipt produced, dated 11th April. The agreement he read out was very similar to the one produced, but he never mentioned partnership, and the agreement did not include the word partnership. Defend-, ant sent her out to the Post Office to get a shilling stamp, but witness got it from a stationer's shop across^ the road and* brought it br. • Defendant was stin writing when wit' returned. He was copying one document from another, and although there was only supposed to be two agreements,' witness saw three. Aftet a while defendant sent her ou,t to get another Is stamp and- to pro to his P.O. box, 439, and on her return she saw that defendant had finished the agreement. Witness signed her name to the agreement ' and .defendant ga.ve her the document produced. Witness did not read*, it, but dof-ndant read it to her, and. there was ni> mention of partnership. Witness atiem ' the office on Monday and told him that the agreement he had handed to her was not the same as he had read out to her. Defendant said she need n&t Worry, it would be all right, that everyone entering business had an agreement like, the one she had received. Witness said, "As long as you act fair to me and straight, and when my time's up I get mf #30 ])acK." Defendant agreed to do so. The office was at 33 Willis-street. Witness Was given a rubber stamp to impress on some forms m order ' to amend them from "Universal Agency" to "Commercial Arbitration Agency." Witness never s&vt any canvassers, but had some forms to send to Roxburgh and Co.'s (Otaki), debtors. Witness saw some envelopes from Palmerston, but ncjt many. All the .letters he got WERE ANSWERS TO ADVERTISEMENTS ' for canvassers, and came sometimes to the office and at other times to a box at the "Evening Post" or "Dominion" office. Witness received a cheque for £1 10s at the end of the first week for her wages and another for £3 to cash. Witness" told defendant that there did not seem any business at all. Defendant said, ''I have been wanting to tell you a secret, but I didn't know whether I could trust you or not. Can I really trust you ?" Witness replied "Yes." Defendant then said, "I'lL think over this and tell you to-morrow." On , the following day defendant said, "There isn't really any business m this. I've been wanting to have a y.oung lady m the < office to help me on to make money. What do you think if we get one young lady or two to learn the typewriting and for me to say you're well experienced. Say we get a premium of £15 or try to get more." Witness said, "Well, Mr White, what will you do with me." He said, "You stayhere for two or three days and teach , them. Don't let them know too much. I After a while we'll get another one m and send you to Palmerston." Witness said she did not like .that idea and that she saw there was no business at all." Defendant- said, "I see you've been used to hard work." Witness said "Yes." Defendant said, "All people who work are fools." Witness said she did not like the business as it seemed very underhanded and not straightforward. Defendant said he was going to start an office m Palmerston and send -witness there and put another young lady m the office to learn the typewriting. Defendant asked witness if she would go to Palmerston if he paid her fare, board and expenses m addition to the 30s per week, and witness said she would. Witness would have to teach the other young; girls typewriting and he was to get another one as partner at Palmerston 'and then she was to return to Wellington after he had sold the Palmerston office out. Witness said, "How can you keep your olfices on when I can see nothing coming m at Wellington,, your head office, as you call it ?" Defendant said, "The only way we can keep going is by having you continually bought out." Witness learned that defendant had advertised for a partner, and Mrs and Miss Holder came to see .about it. Defendant, who had never mentioned the matter to witness or mentioned the price the business was to be sold for. sent her out while Miss and Mrs Holder were there . to procure some printed forms from Mannersstreet. On returning from Manners-street the two ladies were about to go, and she heard defendant say to .them, "If you like you .can ask Miss Wright about what I said." The conversation was something about witness going home to London' to her sister,- who was sick. Witness looked at defendant, who winked at her, and witness then said, "Yes," but she thought he meant she was going home m about twelve months time, which was hei intention After the ladies had gone witness said. "Why, Mr White, what did j you say that for. I don't like it at all. I have come to the conclusion that this Is A VERY MUCH UNDERHANDED BUSINESS." Defendant said, "I said that, but only to make money on you. If I Ret i-SO from this lady and Vive you your money back and your 30s per week to help on would you be satisfied ?" Witness replied, "Yes." Defendant said, "The fact of the

■natter is you are turning sour on me." Dr. McArthur : You were very sweet on him before, were you ? ' Witness.: I was not. Witness, continuing, said, "I am afraid you are spending my money," and defend* ant replied, "Well, what if I am as long as you get your money wheii you go." Witness said, "You can't live on "this business, as there is no business here." Defendant said, "Would you be satisfied if I gave you -'£ls and kept you on at 30s per week ?" Witness replied, "Yes." When she first went to the office witness asked defendant if he would show her m black and white what he had done • with her money, and he replied that the money was" in' the Bank ■of Australasia." Witness said, "I want to know between now and, Saturday, m black and white, what you have done with my money." On the Friday he said his little boy, who •he had been sending out, had lost the ilet-ter-box and office door keys, and he want-i ed her office key. . On the Saturday witness went to the office at "ten a.m., boh the door was locked. Defendant came aI-> ter 11.30 <&.m. and handed her a card, saying the card would introduce her tor his lawyer and that she was to receive a; cheque for £15, and wages 30b pet week.. Witness went to see Mr Lewey, and bet Offered her a post-dated cheque, for £15, payable m June, but witness refused the cheque. In the meantime Mr Levvey. handed witness a letter, as follows :— Commercial Arbitration Agency, 16th Maf, '08. Miss Rosina^Wright, ' Tailoress, 22 Newtown Avenue, Newtown. Dear Madam,— This letter is to 'Con-« firm my verbal acceptance of your verbal decision to , sever your partnersnip with me from to-day m the above agency. lam entitled, however,, to a "Week's * written notice from you of such decision, hence m view of this you forfeit last week's salary. Regarding your request for the immediate, return of £15. I must refer you to the terms of our partnership agreement Wherein the amount mentioned is to be paid you within one month of your leaving this agency « As I object to a repetition of - YOUR INSULTING CONDUCT, and threats of violence already experienced at my office, 1 now refer you to my solicitor, namely, Mr Levvey, ot Levvey and McKenzie, . 42 Lambton Quay, for payment of the amount m question when such fully due. I must also caution you not to molest me. any, further, either at my business or my private address>— Yours, etc.j V- White. Witness went back to defendant and told him Mr Leyvev wanted to see him. Defendant had witness's mirror packed up and told her she had not to- come to. the office again. Witness saw another advertisement calling for replies to Box 43a as follows :— "WANTED, Partner (sleeping) medical line ,of business, splendid returns guaranteed ; £50 required. Box 439, Wellington." At this stage the Case was adjauineo. until 2.15 p.m. on the 15th.