BUS OWNERS’ CLAIM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 205, 18 November 1927, Page 13

BUS OWNERS’ CLAIM

FOURTH DAY OF CASE fPHE fourth day of the hearing of the bus companies' claims for over £40,000 from the City Council was entered into this morning. The claims are in connection with j the taking over by the council of two fleets of buses, 44 in all, from the G.O.C. and R. H. Hieatt, the former claiming £ 34,495’compensation and the latter £8,509. The court is composed of Mr. Justice Herdman and Mr. G. R. Hutchinson for the council, and the Hon. E. j W. Alison for the claimants. Mr. V. R. Meredith and Mr. Are - stead appear for the claimants and Mr. j A. H. Johnstone and Mr. J. Stanton for the council. W. J. Cousins, managing director of W.S.C.and Cousins and Cousins, motorbody builders, whose evidence was unfinished at the adjournment on Wednesday, continued this morning. EXPERT’S EVIDENCE To Mr. Meredith witness said that he had built most of the buses and trams for the City Council. In all cases it had been in public competition, and his tender had been the lowest. He had valued the buses at the request of the council, and his notes had gone into 200 and 300 sheets. He valued a 15-seater bus at £255, and he took that as the premises in all cases. Mr. Meredith: Then you worked on an average?—To a certain extent, but I modified it. Witness agreed that some of the bodies were inferior to the others. Mr. Meredith: Yet you valued all buses on the same basis. Witness admitted that he criticised the specifications presented by Mr. Bates. He saw no drawing. In quite a number of the buses the lining was cracked. He had suggested it would be interesting for the court to see the bus with the side off. Although the witness differed in value concerning one bus, he admitted after a searching cross-examination, that, according to the system of costing prescribed by the Motor Body Builders’ Association, the figures of Mr. Bates were correct. His Honour would not accept Mr. Meredith’s offer to explain the question to the Bench. SYSTEM OF COSTING Re-examined by Mr. Johnstone, witness said the system of costing as mentioned by Mr. Meredith could not be followed because of the changing costs of materials. The prices made by Mr. Bates were not warranted after what he said. Mr. Meredith said he wanted to call evidence, and asked if the Court would inspect one of the buses outside the Court, the chassis of which had been valued at £7, and £6O 4s for the whole thing. “That bus,” said Mr. Meredith, “is now being, used by the City Council, and I want to call evidence in rebuttal of Mr. Foster who says it is not fit to run.”

“It broke its axle on the way to the court this morning,” said Mr. Johnstone. “It is all very well for my friend to be facetious,” replied Mr. Meredith, “but that bus was checked this morning. There is another bus I would like the court to see, too. It has been declared to be useless yet it was carrying passengers this morning.”