DAMAGES CLAIMED

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 10 December 1930, Page 4

DAMAGES CLAIMED

— —. ALLEGED WRONGFUL DISMISSAL. ACTION ACiAINST PI BUSHING COMPANY. (PS IMX ASSOCIATiu:-; 'xkleg It A Si. J AVICLLINOTOX. December In tho Supremo Court to-day, Mrs Nellie 3Smith claimed l'-00 from the Itadio Publishing Company i-"' fl! " legcd broach of contract and wrongful dismissal. Plaintiff, according lo her clu.uu, was given cliargo of tlio cicetricnl and liomo section of tho "Radio Record (or not less thau two yours at i-d tio per week, from Decern nor, ID-!.'. The defence was that plaintil) was also to contribute to the "Dairy Importer/' Tt doired that there was engagement for not Jess than tuo roars, and stated that tho engagement was terminated on account ol a breach by plaintiff of tho terms ol her contract in that she did not as required supply material to hi) six or eight pages a week, that klio was usually Into in supplying material, that its quality was poor and not original, and sho failed to keep in touch with tho ehctrieal trade, ami u» a. rOMilr. ol her neglect or inability defendant nau lost advertising ma I tor, and the section of tho paper placet! in charge «>• plaintiff had suffered ami deteriorated so as to lower the general standard or | tho newspaper. | Plaintiff's Evidence.

! Plaintiff said she was a <iu;ili)U:U accountant. >Shu catuo to Ntw Zealand threo year;- ago, and obtained a position with tho Pahiatua Power Board, having had considetable experience >n England with domestic electric equipment. Whon she i titer vowed the managing; editor of tho "'Kadio 1»~ cord" (Mr A. .J. Hei»hu-a'y), ho told her ifc had a circulation of J l.0<)0. and referred to the proposed electrical drive, outlining tho work he de.-ireil plaintiff to take up. mentioning on electrical matters, and hooks anu music occasionally. His Honour: Were urn to oe expert ! on hooks and music as well? j Plaintiff: Not necessarily expert, hut | I said I thought 1 could take care i or that column for hirn. j Plaintiff, .speaking ot later develop- ' merits, said situ thought Mr I | was bothered about tin- wholo tiling, j and was at tho mercy ol the last P ( j r " J son ho had been consulting on Ihe j subject. Matters came to a bend when ! she asked if lier services had been un- | satisfactorv. He said, ".rimt is .vliat S 1 am. going to maititain unless you ae- ! cept tho offer we snail ma lie V l {; j which I think i* a perfectly fair "ne. Tho ofFer was four weeks' pay. lleigh--1 wa/v saiil, on can have time to 100.-. 1 for work-. If yon accept, we will give j you all the help we can. and y"} 1 j can put out any sforv >Oll like. ' W i.j npss said. "The truth is eiiougti | for mo." . . I Tvntet* in her evidence libuiititr I HoisTiway ns say in t;. ''You told me ! you had orilv one child, and 1 hear S you have three.< Laughter.) I lamtiff nni<l sho told him slip had novor I discussed her children with hirti.

| Tho Defence. : Counsel for the defendant company i asked for a nonsuit on the grounds ' that tho agreement being for over 1 twelve months should have been in writi ins;', and tho date of comm. nceincnt ; should have been mentioned. '] His Honour reserved judgment on the point. Counsel contended lliat plainfifi, on being found incompetent, was entitled to be given notice. A. J. Ileigliway, Riving evidence, Eaid he had advertised for a competent journalist with initiative, enterprise, and enthusiasm. Mrs Smith impressed him ori account, of her association with tho electrical trade and experience, on magazines. Site "was told exactly what was required of her. She was to keep in touch with the electrical trade, and conduct a cooking page and household hints. He was speedily disappointed in her. The page degenerated, and he had to take stops to restore it. The case was adjourned till to-mor-row.