AN EXHIBITION CASE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9134, 1 May 1908, Page 2

AN EXHIBITION CASE.

Press Association. Wellington, April 30. The Appeal Court was occupied with hearing the case Scott v. the King. The action arose over the Christchurch Exhibition, the Commissioners of which for a consideration had granted Scott certain space for the exhibition of biscuits and confectionery. Plaintiff claimed thaf the right was sole and.exclusive and that subsequently the Commissioners granted similar rights to others. Plaintiff further alleged that the Commissioners wrongly entered into possession of the space granted and wrongfully took possession of his confectionery. Plaintiff had claimed £3OOO damages and in the lower Court the jury awarded £ISOO. Certain Questions were reserved for the Appeal Court and these are being argued. The chief nonsuit reserved for decision on behalf of the Crown was that no grant or license was disclosed on the face of the documents to Scott, and that the Commissioners had no authority to grant exclusive rights to any one to sell the articles mentioned (biscuits and confectionery). , . , Mr Skerrett contended that legislation made under the Exhibition Act, and published in tiie Gazette of 1906, which provided that no contract should he binding unless made under a seal, were ultra vires, no authority to make such regulations having been given by the Act. The farther action of the Commissioners brought the case within the Crown Suits Act. Mr Harper, for the defendant,"contended that the Commissioners' having contracted (if they had contracted), in their own names, should have been sued personally, and no action would lie. Parliament’s permission had not been given for Acts committed by Mr Mnnro, and the Crown was not liable for faults committed by him. At the hearing in the Court below he contended ‘that the evidence showed that Mr Mnnro was acting on his own responsibility and the Crown could not be held responsible for such acts. Considerable amusement was caused by Judge Edwards asking “Who is Mr G. S. Mnnro?” When laughter subsided his Honour said, “I do not know. ” “I do not wonder,” added Mr Skerett, K.C. “It is difficult to know what he is. At one time he was : Chairman of the Exhibition Oom- — missiouers,. ”- Mr Justice Denniston added. “I do not know what lie was. 1 know what he acted as.” (Renewed laughter). Mr Harper observed ‘ 1 It was stated by my friend, Mr Skerrett, that he was King of the Exhibition.” “The Czar of all the Russias, he was called,” said Mr Justice Deuniston. “Originally he was a West Coaster.” concluded Mr Justice Chapman. (Loud laughter.)