PAYING THE ORCHESTRA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 773, 20 September 1929, Page 11

PAYING THE ORCHESTRA

MAYOR SUES RELIEF DANCE ORGANISERS DECISION RESERVED Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. Evidence for the defence was heard in Wellington yesterday afternoon in the case in which the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, as trustee for the Earthquake Relief Fund, is suing Charles Forrest and Maurice Domb. the promoters of a “jazz evening” held in the Town Hall in aid of the fund. The Mayor is claiming from defendants £9S 7s sd, being the difference between the sum paid to him. £4O 3s 6d, and the total profits, £l3B 10s lid. One of the conditions on which the promoters of the dance were permitted to use the Town Hall was that all the proceeds, less advertising expenses, should go to the fund. The statement of expenses which had later been submitted to the Mayor had included the payment of 17 musicians and an “organising charge” of £lO 10s. The contention of defendants, who were represented by Mr. Mazengarb, was that they were unbusinesslike in their management, but there was no intention of dishonesty. The most that could be said against them was that they were lax, but there could be no suggestion imputing dishonest motives. Defendants had not understood that the musicians were not to be paid. After hearing the evidence of Forrest, the magistrate reserved his decision.