UNFINISHED CONTRACT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 7

UNFINISHED CONTRACT

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON. Nov. 24. On the grounds that the contract for the erection of a steel structure at the new Ford factory at Lower. Hutt had been wrongfully terminated, P. Graham and Sons, Laid., Christchurch, in an action started in the Supreme Court to-day, claim from the Ford Motor Company of New Zealand, Ltd., damages totalling £14,08$ 10s 3d, plus £175 8s 6d for interest. Alternatively plaintiffs claim £9854 0s 3d damages, that being the contract price of £30,100, less £18,573 7s progress payment, and £1672 12s 9d for estimated costs of completion. The defence, while denying all liability to plaintiff, disclosed that the defendant company had paid into Court £7550, which, it contended, was enough to satisfy plaintiff's claim. Mr Justice Reed was on the Bench. Mr N. Edgar, of Christchurch, with him Mr E. P. Hay, appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr H. j. V. James, with him Mr W. F. Hogg, for defendants. Both the statement of plaintiff and defendant revealed a good deal of friction between the parties in an attempt to get the work completed to contract time, and the defence alleged that the conduct of plaintiffs in and about the execution of the work was such as t.o amount to repudiation by it of its obligations under the agreement, and to entitle defendant to determine the agreement. Evidence on the lines of the statement of claim was given by James Walter Graham, governing director of the plaintiff company. The case continues to-morrow.