CLAIM FOR COAT

Southland Times, Issue 22140, 7 October 1933, Page 4

CLAIM FOR COAT

ALLEGEDLY LOST AT BALL. JUDGMENT FOR DEFENDANT. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, October 6. Mr Stillwell, S.M., gave reserved judgment to-day in the case of Dudley Bennett, who claimed £8 8/- from Hubert Nathan, nominal promoter of the Coster Ball in the Town Hall on July 28, the value of an overcoat alleged to have been lost at the ball. Judgment was for defendant. In the course of the judgment the Magistrate said the committee, after making reasonable and efficient arrangements to deal with the normal carnival throng, could not be held blameworthy for failing to contemplate extreme misbehaviour by a section of the guests. He did not think there was a duty on promoters to see that an official should be there to restrain such an unseemly scramble as appeared to have taken place. Mr Stillwell said also there was clear evidence that plaintiff asked a friend to hold his coat while he dealt with a person who had intervened. He said he had come to the conclusion that plaintiff did receive a coat and that it, was a reasonable inference that it was his coat.