A DEBT COLLECTING ASSOCIATION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVII, Issue 8161, 28 June 1895, Page 3

A DEBT COLLECTING ASSOCIATION.

-(Bv Telegraph—Own Cobbespondekt.) Auckland, Juno 27. To-day at.the Supreme-Court a case on appeal, of interest to tradesmen, came . before His Honor Mr Justice Conolly. The appellants. wcroOooke and Cooke, BQd'tho 'respondents Reed Bros. Mr Baume appeared for the appellants and Mr Cotter for respondents. The plaintiffs in the S.M. Court claimed to recover from defendants the sum of ; £1 to be due. by virtue of a contfacb under the hands of defendants, but MrNorthcroftgavojudgment against ; plaintiffs. nThis was an appeal from the decision ■ -of Mr Northcroft. fhe appellants carried on business tinder tho name of" Thb Mercantile Debt Collecting and Trade Protection Association," and respondents, Reed Bros., are watchmakers and jewellers, The respondents became subscribers to the A sociaiion in terms of an agreement which was ns follows: — •'Please enroll onr names as annual subscribers tc your Association, and continue the same until countermanded. Subscription fee, £1 Is; payable in adranee." The question for the Court is: Was Mr Northcroft's decision right in point of law ? Mrßanme in opening said although the case--was stated at length by Mr Northcroft, he contended it was reduced to a small matter. The real point hung on the agreement itself. After some argument, His Honor said .that what was admitted in the Court below was before him now. . In the coorse of argument by counsel His Honor ruled that no consideration was Bhown on the face of the document. '■ His Honor said he had no doubt whatever the appeal must bo d'smissed. The aotion was brought on on alleged contract, and the r-'.M, held, and His Honor thought quite rightly, tlicra wa« no conv ; sideratiou for the contract. Theappeal '*- dismissed with £10 costs. •;■; -'-His- Honor refused leave for Mr Bsumeto appeal tp 9 ..hiflhw court,