CLAIM FOR GRAZING

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 237, 8 May 1933, Page 6

CLAIM FOR GRAZING

Case at Stratford Court FORMER STOCK FIRM MANAGER’S OPERATIONS A claim for £25 7s 3d, allegedly owing to hex’ fox* grazing fees, was made at the Stratford Court this afternoon before Mr. W H. Woodward, S.M., by Violet Annie Williams (Mr Truby King) from Norman B. Fletcher (Mr. N. H. Moss). The claim was made on transactions v alleged to have taken place during defendant’s managership of the local branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd.

Mrs. Williams, said Mr. King, was the owner of a farm property at Huiroa in 1931, at which time charges were incurred. In 1930 she had no means to stock the property properly, and was willing to graze stock. She replied to a newspaper advertisement and finally, after defendant had inspected the land, he recommended that cattle be put on the land as he thought it was too long for sheep. Defendant was then the manager of the local branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co, He quoted the usual charges, but Mrs Williams did not have any knowledge of them as she had not previously lived on a farm. Several lots of cartie were put on the farm in the next two years, and it transpired that some of the cattle were owned by Fletcher. The chai’ges amounted to about £7O, and she had actually been paid up to May 25, 1931. Plaintiff was interested in a small way in acquiring cattle, and it was understood that payment would be made to Newton King (from whom she bought them) by Fletcher, and out of the grazingfees.

When plaintiff interviewed the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, Company she was given an advance of £2 cash on account. When she heard that Fletcher was leaving the firm she became perturbed and after some time interviewed him on the matter. It was largely on that interview that the case was based. Plaintiff was lead to believe that all accounts owing by her had been paid. He also stated that on some cattle he had not realised any profit and consequently a concession of £2O was made, (his reducing the claim for grazing to very small proportions. When plaintiff received an account from Newton King, Ltd., she was surprised and interviewed the firm, us a result of which negotiations were commenced between the two firms. These had not been fruitful. On the point being raised by Mr. Moss, Mr. King stated that the claim was made against defendant in his capacity as a private citizen, and not ./t against his former employers. ( (.Left Sitting.)