THE HUNTER ESTATE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 157, 21 July 1937, Page 5

THE HUNTER ESTATE

i— Prefea Aisooiation.)

Address for ^ the Defence Continued

\&1 Telegrapb

WELLINGTON. This Day. All day yesterday ih the Supreme Oourt, before Mr Juatice Smith, Mr 0. H. Weston, K.C., continued his final address in the Hunter estate case. He is appearing (with him Mr J, H. Dunu) LOr the trustees of the Sir George iLuuter estate, Cyril Paul Hlxutei- axld L'homae Perey Hunter, whose removal from the tx'usteeship is beihg sought by 1.ady Hunter on the grouuds of niinuanagement of the estate. Mr J. D. Wiliis, with him Mr R. R. Scott, is appearing for Lady Hunter. Mr Weston,' continuing his address From Monday, reviewed the evidsnce in aetail in furtberance of his submissions that' the trustees had at all timea done ttverything that reasonable and prudent men could be expected to do in all the •:ireumstances. ,He submitted that the ^ery presence of Lady Hunter on the tarm made for caution being exercised oy the trustees. They knew she was soeking every opportunity to attack them. His Honour wanted to know why, in view of this permauent hoatility between the trustees and the beueiieiary, the trustees did not resigu. ' ' Everybody who has been dealing with the case has ■.uggested tliat they should resign," he -aid. "It is most uuusual that trustees mould want to be earrying on under lxese conditions. ' •

Mr Weston replied that the reasoxis ior the trtxsteeB persisting ixi earrying >u wero uneontrovertible. They were ^iven this trust by Bir George Hunter.' tt was always fcjir George 's wish that they should4 aot as trustees. "The trustees say they would be deserting iu ine face of the euemy if they re•ugued." His Honours Even with the atalf dvailable it seems to me they did uot •io as much as they ought to have done. L'he skins, for instance: they did uot get in as many dead skins ae in Sir 'ieorge's day. Later, his Honour said; What impressed me most was the fact that Sir George Hunter collect^d such a vast quantity of skins, and that when he died the numbef at once went down. It seems to me that when Sir George died the shepherds at once "let up. " That was the inference 1 drew. . Suppose I say there were too many men nu the farm at one time and that they did not do their job properly, how far can 1 hold the trustees responsiblef Mr Weston: If you find the manager was incompetent then the trustees will be responsible; but if you find the manager eompetent, then the trustees cannot be held responsible. Mr Weston submitted that many of the plaintiff'e objeetions were ^ trivial aud hud little or no substaiice in fact. The case will be resumed this ltiorning at 10.30, when Mr Weston will dohItinue his address.