HEAVY DAMAGES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1933, Page 6

HEAVY DAMAGES

CLAIMED IN SLANDER CHARGE. SALE OF CHEMICAL FORMULA. (Ft Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, June 12. A damages claim ror obv» opened before Mr Justice Ostler to-day, u» which Reginald Charles Bourne, sales yi-amsci, Wellington, alleges slander against James Dickson Kiev urigut, rewicu, also o. l . ling ton. Flamciu of statements alleged to have been made falsely and maliciously by defendant to one, H. J. Rociryer, aneetmg plaintiif’s credit and reputation, in connection with the business or a syndicate tor the manufacture of a chemical preparation, in wnicli the parties were associated. Mr O’Leary, counsel lor the defence, said it-would be submitted that statements, were made on occasions qualified by privilege and without malice.

PlaintiJf had advertised for someone with £SO to communicate with him. A Mrs Miller let Boddie have £SO on the security of the formula. Later, plaintiff came to Sievwright and obtained £2O, again pledging tho. formula. After this plaintiff apparently sold another share to W. T. Neale. Gradually it was revealed to these three than each had paid for the same thing. A syndicate was then formed and the business proved unsatisfactory. Counsel then described, at some length, how the formula had been-pre-pared by Ruddle at .Christchurch, and sold to the Company . The sale of the formula was a complete sale of all the rights' connected-. vyith, and was not restricted to the South Island. Mr Arthur MoKellar, chairman of the Company, would give evidence to that effect, and also that when Boddie was getting the money lie acting. fraudulently. It was also alleged that plaintiff had borrowed money on chattels in Auckland, and sold the chattels, anpropriating the money

Arthur McKellar, a public accountant, of Christchurch, gave details of the purchase of the formula hv a Christchurch company, which took the sole right. The compnnv was still going and not in financial difficulties. The ulaintiff had no right to negotiate for the sale of the preparation. The hearing was adjourned.