SCHOOL ACCOUNTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12612, 24 November 1926, Page 9

SCHOOL ACCOUNTS

CLAIM FOR AUDITING FEES JUDGMENT FOR"DEFENDANT BOARD. A claim for audit fees instituted by John Francis Jr*. Veatman (Mr A. W. Blair) against the Education Board of the Wellington district (Mr T. (J. A. Hislop), was considered by his Honour, Mr Justice Alpers in the Supreme Court yesterday.

The statement of claim set out that the plaintiff on March 29th last Avas instructed bv the defendant board to audit the accounts of the 250 schools in its district, embracing parts as far afield as Marlborough. The audit occupied 7001 hours nnd the board had paid him £75 oji account. The plaintiff claimed £667, alleged to be the balance of monies! due to him, and computed at the rate of £7 7s a day of seven hours. The defence was to the effect that the plaintiff applied for work and was engaged to execute the audits at a reasonable sum to be determined by the chairman of the board, and not to exceed the sum of £75, the amount paid for previous audits. After hearing the evidence tendered by both sides, his Honour came to the conclusion that there was a contract, although the plaintiff was paid far too little for his services. It was unfortunate that such was the. cage; but on the other hand the plaintiff’s claim was too high. Judgment was accordingly entered for the defendant with costs on the lowest scale. ■"