A BILL OF COSTS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1929, Page 6

A BILL OF COSTS

lIARBOUR BOARD COMPLAINS. CHRISTCHURCH, November 7. A lawyer’s bill of costs was the- subject of complaint at the Lyttelton Harbour Board meeting yesterday. The charges made by a firm of Wellington solicitors for perusing debentures was £lll Os fid. Board members were unanimous in voicing protest against the amount of the charges, but they differed as to the action that should be taken. " Messrs Chapman, Tripp, Cooke, and Watson, the legal firm acting for the A..U.P. Society, the mortgagees in the redemption loan of £56,800, had prepared the debentures and charged £lll Os fid for their services. The Board had offered £52 10s in settlement, but the firm had declined to accept and submitted the account to the Registrar of the Supreme Court for taxation. The Finance Committee reconimended that the’account-be.paid as rendered. Air W. J. Walter having dissented.. The matter was brought up by the chairman. Mr H. Holland, who said that he thought the Board should keep its flag flying and not withdraw its protest. The- solicitors of the Board had advised that although £199 might have been charged according to scale, the Wellington firm had charged only 105 guineas. In the particular case it may have boon the charge could be reduced in fairness and they suggested

that a letter of protest be sent. That had been sent. The question was a most important one staid Air W. J. Walter, and he recommended that £so' be paid under protest and the firm be allowed to sue if they wished. They could then have a test ease which would serve throughout New Zealand Other members thought taxing would mean further expense. It was decided, after a division and a motion by Messrs Walter and Gallagher had been defeated by eight 'votes to two, to pay the bill of costs under protest.,..'