CLAIM FOR BOARD.

Wairarapa Age, 11 March 1927, Page 6

CLAIM FOR BOARD.

AGAINST DECEASED ESTATE STEP-SON’S PETITION SUCCEEDS. George Wishart, butcher, of Masterton proceeded yesterday in the Supreme Court against the Public Trustee as administrator of the estate of W. L. Paul, deceased, claiming £275 zss for board and lodging and nursing of the deceased. Mr. C. C. Marsack appeared for plaintiff and Mr. P. B. Broad for the Public Trustee.

Counsel for the plaintiff outlined his case to* the effect that deceased was plaintiff’s step-father. At the request of plaintiff’s mother, shortly before she died, Wishart agreed to give Paul a home, but it was understood between the parties that Paul should pay 15s per week for his keep. Wishart frequently asked Paul to contribute something towards his board which he agreed to do, but invariably requested Wishart to wait for it. Witness did not expect to benefit under his stepfather’s will, but his two children were beneficiaries to the extent of one-third of the assets.

Mr. Board, for the defence, submitted that under the terms of the will the iubstantial bulk of the mother’s estate

went to the plaintiff, presumably in acknowledgment of his willingness to give the deceased a home after the mother’s death.

His Honour, in giving judgment for the plaintiff for £l5O, said that probably the arrangement was that deceased should get house room and reasonable attention from plaintiff, and that the question of board had been left open. Any agreement regarding the amount to be paid was very indefinite. He could not believe that any contract had been made and thought, therefore, that the sum of £l5O was a reasonable amount to cover everything.