HUNTER ESTATE CASE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 146, 8 July 1937, Page 3

HUNTER ESTATE CASE

Press Assosiation.)

Allegation of Threats Denied By Defendant FOURTEENTH DAY

( By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON,, This Day. Evidenc© to refute allegations of mismanagement on the Forangakau station was called in the Supreme Court, Wellington; yesterday, on the fourteenth day of tho heariug of the case in which . Lady Hunter, widow of tho late Sir George Hunter, is seeking the reinoval of the two trustees of the eatate, Cyral Paul Hunter, Akitio, and Thomas Percy Hunter, Porangahau. Mr J. D. Willis, with him Mr B. R. Scott, are appearing for Lady Hunter. The defendants are represented by Mr C. H. Weston, K.C., with him Mr J. H. Dunn. Mr Justice Smith is on the! Bench. Kenneth Edward Cornish, manager of the wool and produce department of Dalgety and Co., Ltd., ^Napier, said that Sir George Hunter had sold his sk'ins through witness's firm and there had since been consignments from the trustees of the estate. The percentage of dead, damaged and inferior skins was greater from 1929 to 1932 than it had been since. His Honour asked the total value of the skins sold. Witnese said that in September, 1929, 587 skins had been sold for £114 18/-; in November, 1932, 218 skins had been sold for £12 2/-. Counsel for defendants suggested that the fact that there were 587 skins in 1929 showed that the death rate wa? too' high in that year. Beferring to a statement that a consignment of skins in 1937 had been badly handled, witnese said that 33 were faulty, appearing to have been exposed to the weather. A leaking roof on the skin shed at the station would account for that. Oross-Examination. Witness was cross-examined by Mr Wdilis, who asked: It seems apparent 'trom your records of 1929 that every care was taken by Sir George to sell every possible skin? Witness: The consignments of dead skins were heavier. You would judge that Sir George, couldn't have wasted much in the way of bad skins? — " Yes." Witness said that in 1929 963 skins had been sold by Sir George, and in 1930 700. There had been notlidng approaching that number in succeeding years; the figures were: 1931, G30; 1932, 218J 1933, 121; 1934, 267;* 1935, 161; 1936, 272. In 1933 skins broug'nt 2/5 at oue sale and 3/- at another. They were worth taking trouble to preserve. Counsel: On a well-managed station you wouldn't expect many' damaged skins? Witness: Not off killers, but off dead sheep. If skins were properly treated — dried, painted and kung singly — you wouldn't expect the weevil to get in? — "I wouldn't expect it." Be-examiined, witness said that if a station altered its carrying capacity he would expect f'ewer skins from xt.p If, through better management, the death-rate dropped there would also be fewer skins. If more of the dead sheep were plucked rather than skinned, this would hav6 the same effect. Stock Agent's Evidence. Boy Octavius Bonsfield, stock manager for Williams and Kettle, Ltd., Waipukurau, said that before Sir | George Hunter died he (witness) inspected the station. The pasture was j in a very rough state; the sheep wero ■ small-boned Lincolns and of weak conntitution, as also were the cattle, which j were a poor lot. In-breeding and the. ! rough pasture had affected the stoels. j Since the trustees took over, they j had acquired a particularly well-brcd line of Aberdeen Angus heifers, from one of the best herds in New Zealand. These cattle had been obtained by exchange, no money passing. In reply to his Honour, witness said that the exchango was mado on the basis of ono for one; the pick of Sir Gcorgo's herd were exchanged as fat cattle in return for breeding heifers. Witness said that to-day the Hunter estate cattle compared favourably with the best station-bred lines on the East Coast. The ewes> which he inspected recently, were a good type' of BomneyLincoln cross. For condition they compared very favourably with the general run of sheep in Hawke's Bay, but few farmers were to-day breeding from Itomney-Lincoln cross. For bone and constitution the ewes were equal to the average ewe 011 that class of country. The wool was more valuable than ltojnney wool. The six-tootb ewes bred on tne station were more saleable than two lines oi" six-tooths, bought as two-tootlis from a jiarticularly good tioek. Jt was difficult lo buy good two-tooth ewes, as most farmers held their best for breediug purposes and sold only culls. If one bought two-tooths for breeding purposes, one would have to cull them again, as much as 30 per eent., to get a reasonably good line. Witness expressed the opinion that it was a sound policy. to put, Lincoln ewes to Bomuey rams, provided tlie Lincolns were good oues, In the case of tho Hunter estate tho policy had been a success. If the trustees had bought all or mainly llomney twotooths they would probably not have done a great deal better. Management of Station. Cross-cxamined by Mr Willis. witness denied discussiug tlie management of tlie Porangahau station with Lady Hunter. Counsel: Did you discuss with her Ihe question of vvhether your firm eould finance the estate? • Witness: I don't remember, but I uon 't think so, because I would have tio aut.h-orily to do so. Uid you discuss tb«- I'act that Ladv Hunter was receiving uo income from tlie estat'e !J— "N'o." • Witness said tliat he had had 110 | practical farming experienc© since he 1

was 18 years of age, but considered that he was competent to give an cpiuion on how an 8000-acre station should be restocked. Counsel said that there were 14,000 sheep on the station and asked witness how many of these he had seen. Witness replied that 1200 to 1600 had been yarded for his inspection. He did not know whether they were epeoially selected. Witness said that he knew Mr Edgecombe and Mr Wilson, who nad given evidence for the other side. He considered that they were giood farmers and that their judgment would be sound on their own class of land. In reply to further questions witness said that in 1931 a reasonably good ram would be worth £5 5/-. It would be possible to get a satisfactory ram for 10/6. The average price that witness paid for rams bought this year was £10 10/-. Defendant in Box. Cyril Paul. Hunter, sheepfarmer, Akitio, one of the defendants, said that he had been born and bred a sheep and cattle farmer. For about three yeura he had managed the Akitio station, as well as looking after his own run ; emce 1913 he had conducted his own stition of 5200 acres. He had been on the very best of terms with his late uncle, Sir George Hunter, who, in October, 1929, had asked witness to be executor of his will Under the present willt witness, in conjunction with the other tneml-ers of the Paul Hunter family, would take over the whole of the estate, if Betty, the daughter, did not succeed. Alter his uncle's death the last will had, for a timo, been treated as valid; he, his brother, and Lady Hunter had acted as the trustees and had met in Beth-me and Hunter's office for, he thought, three 'days. Lady Hunter gave no mdication that she objected to witness and his brother as trustees. There were present Lady Hunter, Mr. Dunn, witnei.s. his brother, and on one occasiou, Mr D. M. Findlay. Mr Percy Hunter was appJointed supervisor at £200 a year; this was continuing an ararii£3mer.t made in Sir George' s +ime. Counsel: Were you present in court when Lady Hunter said that threats were made to her at that meeting? Witness: Yes. What have you to say about itP — ' 'There were no threats. There was a difference of opinion, but I don't know exactly wbat it was about. There was no suggestion that we were going to administer the estate in such a way i-s would be to her disadvantagie." Was any suggestion made by LaJy Hunter that she proposed to contest the last will? — "No." How long afterwards was it that you received notice that she did proposo to contest the will? — "I think it was well on in October." Was there any objection to Mr "err.v Hunter acting as supervisor ?— -"No." How long did be act? — "Till July, 1932." Witness eaid that when Mr Percy Hunter relinquished the position 01 supervisor he made a report. The court adjourned till to-day.