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CATCHWORDS
TRADE PRACTICES - Prosecution - false or misleading statements
as to profitability - advertisement referring to remuneration -
promise or prediction
as to future earnings - managing director
charged with being knowingly concerned - lack of belief or
reckless indifference concerning predictions - jurisdiction to
hear charges against individual where lack of personal service.
TRADE PRACTICES ACT 1974
CRIMES ACT 1914
JUSTICES ACT (S.A.) 1921
s.5
LESLEY PATRICIA REARDON
AND
LESLEY PATRICIA REARDON
S.A. G54
G55
G56
G57
G58
G59
G60
No.
G5
G6
G7
FISHER J.
Adelaide
of 1981
" 1."
of 1982
13 December 1982
s.59(2)
$.27, 8.62
Vv AQUAJET HOLDINGS (S.A) PTY. LIMITED
Vv JAMES PATRICK NOLAN
G
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) S.A. No. G54 of 1981
\ ) G55 wu ua
SOUTH AUSTRALIA DISTRICT REGISTRY ) G56 " "
) G57 au u
GENERAL DIVISION ) G58 " "
G59 " u
G60 u "
G5 of 1982
G6 " u
G7 " "
BETWEEN:
LESLEY PATRICIA REARDON
Prosecutrix
- and -
AQUAJET HOLDINGS {S.A.) PTY. LIMITED
Defendant
AND ,
LESLEY PATRICIA REARDON
Prosecutrix
- and -
JAMES PATRICK NOLAN
Defendant
FISHER J.
13 December 1982
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
These are 10 prosecutions brought by the prosecutrix
alleging contraventions of s.59(2) of the Trade Practices Act
1974 ("the Act"). Aquajet Holdings (S.A.) Pty. Limited
("Aquajet") is charged with a total of 7 contraventions of
that section of the Act and James Patrick Nolan ("Mr. Nolan")
is charges under s.5 of the Crimes Act 1914 with being
knowingly concerned in 3 of such contraventions. All
proceedings against the defendants were at their request heard
together.
Section 59(2) of the Act 1s in the following terms: -
"Where a Corporation, in trade or commerce, invites,
whether by advertisement or otherwise, persons to engage
or participate, or to offer or apply to engage or
participate, 1n a business activity requiring the
investment of moneys by the persons concerned and the
performance by them of work associated with the investment,
the corporation shall not make, with respect to the
profitability or risk or any other material aspect
of the business activity, a statement that is false or
misleading in a material particular."
Two charges against Aquajyet arose out of advertise-
ments appearing on 31 December 1980 and 22 January 1981
f
respectively which except 1n respect of the telephone numbers
were as follows:
" Cleaners Required
We require carpet cleaners for both domestic and
commercial carpets. Experience preferred but not
essential as full on-the-job training provided.
Ideal self-employment opportunity for people wishing
to operate their own business or people already
established such as plumbers, carpenters, painters etc.
This position offers a return of approximately $400 to
$800 per week for an outlay of less than $30 per week.
Only people who are genuinely interested in helping
themselves need apply.
Car essential
For appointment Ph. 297 3989."
The two charges in reference to these advertisements were
in similar form except as to dates and alleged against Aquajet that-
"1. On about the 3lst day of December 1980. at Adelaide
in the State of South Australia you a corporation
being a company incorporated under the Companies
Act 1962 as amended of the State of South Australia
and having your registered office at 13 Maple Avenue,
3.
Forestville in the State of South Australia in
contravention of section 59(2) of the Trade Practices
Act 1974 in trade or commerce having by advertisement
invited persons to apply to participate in a business
activity requiring the investment of moneys by the
person concerned and the performance by them of work
associated with the investment did make with respect
to the profitability of the business activity a statement
that was misleading in a material particular, contrary
to section 79(1) of the Trade Practices Act 1974.
The particulars of the charge are -
2. The said statement was made in an advertisement in
'The Advertiser' newspaper dated Wednesday the 3lst
day of December 1980 at page 23.
3. The said statement was "This position offers a return of
approximately $400 to $800 per week for an outlay of
less than $30 per week."
The remaining 5 charges against Aguajet arose out of
advertisements inserted on 3 February 1981, 18 February 1981,
12 March 1981, 19 March 1981 and 24 March 1981. They were all
substantially in the following form:
" Carpet Cleaners Required
We are a South Australian based firm, and due to rapid
expansion, require additional people to work for us as
carpet cleaners, earning well above average income.
If you:
1. Are over 21 years old.
2. Have your own vehicle.
3. Are currently self-employed, or would like to be
self-employed.
4, Would like to enter a new career for which paid
training is provided.
5. Are prepared to work hard for an income in excess
of $400 weekly, then rang 297 3077 for an appointment."
The prosecutrix's charges against Aquajet in respect of
these advertisements were in common form except as to the date
of the alleged contravention. Such form was as follows:
"1. On about the 3rd day of February 1981 at Adelaide in
the State of South Australia AQUAJET HOLDINGS (S.A.)
PTY, LIMITED a Corporation being a company incorporated
under the Companies Act 1962 as dmended of the State of
South Australia and having its régistered office at
13 Maple Avenue, Forestville in the State of South
Australia in contravention of section 59(2) of the
Trade Practices Act,.1974 in trade or commerce having
by advertisement invited persons to apply to participate
in a business activity requiring the investment of
moneys by the person concerned and the performance by
them of work associated with the investment did make
with respect to the profitability of the business
activity a statement that was misleading in a material
particular; contrary to section 79(1) of the Trade
Practices Act 1974.
The particulars of the charge are -
2. The said statement was made in an advertisement in
'The Advertiser' newspaper dated Tuesday the 3rd day of
February 1981 at page 28,
3. The said statement was '... an income in excess of
$400 weekly...' " .
The defendant James Nolan was charged with being, contrary
to section 5 of the Crimes Act 1914, knowingly concerned in the
commission of the 3 offences by Aquajet arising out of the
advertisements appearing on 12 March 1981, 19 March 1981 and
24 March 1981 respectively. Section 5 is as follows:
"5. Any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures,
or by any act or omission is in any way directly
or indirectly knowingly concerned in, or party
to the commission of any offence against any law
of the Commonwealth or of a Territory, whether
passed before or after the commencement of this
Act, shall be deemed to have committed that
offence and shall be punishable accordingly."
On 21 December 1981 the then Minister for Business and
Consumer Affairs gave his consent pursuant to s.163(4) of the
Act to the abovementioned proceedings against Aquajet and
subsequently also consented to the proceedings against Mr. Nolan.
No issue arose in relation to any of these consents. When the
hearing of the proceedings commenced counsel appeared for
Aquajet and Mr. Nolan and entered a plea of not guilty on behalf
of each defendant.
The essential question for determination in the proceedings
was whether the statements in the two advertisements "This
position offers a return of approximately $400 to $800 per week
for an outlay of less than $30 per week" and the words in the
remaining advertisements "an income in excess of $400 weekly" were
or either of them was with respect to the profitability of the
business activity a statement that was misleading in a material
particular. There was no serious disputationin respect of the
other essential ingredients of the offences and I find each of
those other elements proved beyond reasonable doubt.
The business activities of Aquajet concerned carpet cleaning
and included both the manufacture of carpet cleaning machines
and the cleaning of carpets both domestic and commercial. It
appears that these machines were made at the business premises
of Aquajet, which company sold the machines and other cleaning
equipment. These sales were on the evidence made both to
employees of Aquajet and to persons who were in these proceedings
called "sub-contractors". It was in relation to the engagement
of these sub-contractors that advertisements as above and to a
similar effect were from time to time inserted. Prior to their
engagement each of these sub-contractors was required to purchase
from Aquajjet a carpet cleaning machine for $3,500. Aquajet from
time to time assisted in the purchase by arranging finance for
the sub-contractors. The defendant Mr. Nolan was as managing
director actively engaged in the management of the business
activities of Aquajet.
However, the relevant business activity for the purpose of
these proceedings was that of the sub-contractors. Stated briefly
at this stage, it anvolved the use of the carpet cleaning machine
together with other equipment and material (all purchased from
Aquajet) on the performance of carpet cleaning work allocated
to them by Aquajet. Such cleaning work was at the homes and
business premises of customers and was allocated to sub-
contractors da1ly. The fees for the work were retained by the
sub-contractors, who were however obliged to pay to Aquajet a
commission which appears to have ranged between 25% and 40% of
the fees. The evidence was to the effect that the sub-contractors
were entitled to solicit work in addition to the work allocated
by Aquajet and some witnesses said they paid a commission to
Aquajet on fees obtained for this work. The employees of Aquajet
also performed carpet cleaning work for the customers of that
company and the evidence indicated that although their numbers
were few they did the bulk of the work, and the sub-contractors
were only allocated the work which the employees were unable
to perform.
Counsel for the prosecutrix agreed that to the extent that
he could not establish that the statements carrectly construed
were as to existing or past facts but instead constituted a
forecast or prediction as to the future, it was necessary for
him to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Aquajet... "did not
believe that the forecast or prediction would be satisfied or
was recklessly indifferent concerning the forecast or prediction"
(See Thompson v Mastertouch T.V. Services Pty. Ltd. 15 A.L.R.
487 per Franki J. at p.495). I refer hereafter to this as a
"blameworthy state of mind".
Prior to the commencement of the hearing the prosecutrix
supplied at the request of the defendants particulars of the
manner in which it was alleged that the statements in the
advertisements were misleading. This was done by letter dated
13 May 1982 the relevant portion being
"The prosecution alleges that the statements in each of
the charges were misleading in that the statement in
each advertisement concerning the weekly income
represented the weekly income to be higher than that
which a person who worked as a carpet cleaner in response
to the advertisement might reasonably be expected to
receive."
It was contended on behalf of the defendants that by these
particulars the prosecutrix was acknowledging that the represent-
ations in the advertisements were properly to be construed as
a forecast or prediction as to the earnings which a' carpet
cleaner could reasonably expect to receive and not a representation
as to what they were or had in the past been earning.
r
In his opening counsel for the prosecutrix put his case on the,
basis that the representation was not a forecast but a statement
of presently available earnings. There was no objection taken
on behalf of the defendants until a later stage of the hearing.
As on my fanding the prosecutrix can make out her case whichever
be the proper construction to place on the advertisements I
propose to consider the matter on the basis that each advertisement
contained a promise or prediction, thus imposing the more onerous
obligation on the prosecution. 'tt will be readily apparent from
my findings that the prosecutrix could more easily establish her
case if the proper construction was that the representation was as
to a present or past fact, and therefore there is no profit in
entering upon the more difficult task of construing the advertisements.
Different minds would doubtless read and interpret them differently.
For the purpose of proving the prosecution's case, very
considerable evidence was given concerning the activities of sub-
contractors before and during the period in which the subject
advertisements were inserted, from which it was said I should infer
that Aquajet had a blameworthy state of mind. In addition there was
certain direct evidence as to the attitude of Mr. Nolan as managing
director. This established to my mind quite clearly that Aquajet
did not advertise for sub-contractors because it needed their
services but because their engagement boosted its sales of carpet
cleaning equipment. In this regard 1t could be said that the preamble
to each of the advertisements was also false or misleading in that it
represented that carpet cleaners or additional people were required.
No charges however were laid in this regard. Moreover the evidence
established that Mr. Nolan was quite unconcerned as to the amount
of work available to sub-contractors.
Apart from officers of the Trade Practices Commission, 15
sub-contractors, two employees of Aquajet, a receptionist and the
general manager gave evidence. I have no problem in accepting the
evidence of each of them.
For the purpose of determining whether in inserting the
advertisements containing the predictions as to earnings the
defendants or either of them believed "the forecast or prediction
would be satisfied or was recklessly indifferent concerning the
forecast or prediction" (Thompson v Mastertouch T.V.,; Services
Pty. Ltd. supra) it is appropriate to review the knowledge which the
defendants had or should have had at the dates of the advertisements.
The first advertisement appearing on 31 December 1980 contained
the following statement
"This position offers a return of approximately $400
to $800 per week for an outlay of less than $30 per week."
The prosecution's case was that in so far as this was a statement of
presently available earnings it was false, or alternatively that as
a forecast it was made recklessly, in each instance because it knew
or should have known that no person at that time was earning other
than on most rare occasions even $400 per week. The sub-contractors
who had been employed prior to that date gave evidence which, on
the inferences available to be drawn therefrom, abundantly supported
the prosecutrix's contentions. This evidence can be summarised as
hereinafter follows, each of the witnesses being persons who had
earlier answered like advertisements although the representations
therein concerning earnings were not necessarily the same. In each
instance the witness was required to purchase a carpet cleaning
machine.
Mr. Packer gave evidence that he worked as a sub-contractor
from 10 March to 9 May 1980. He tendered a schedule of his
earnings which indicated that in no week during the period did
he earn as much as $400. His maximum weekly earnings from all
10.
sources were $332 in the third week of his employment, and
thereafter they fell away until the last week when he only earned
$34. When he complained to officers of Aquajet he was told that .
work was not guaranteed and that he could not be given work if
the company did not have it.
Mr. Arbon worked from March to June 1980 and in only one
week did his earnings exceed $400. On this occasion he earned
$418.50 on his own account and $118 from work supplied to him by
Aquajet. During the first two weeks of his engagement he earned
$363 and $248 respectively from work supplied by Aquajet but
thereafter these earnings did not exceed $159 in any one week.
He wrote in June 1980 complaining about work in the following
terms and as well made a number of oral complaints, The letter is
as follows:
28,6,8
"Jim & Nancy Nolan, 9
Just a short note to say I am not happy
with the situation you are offering. Your don't
think I am going to keep paying money to you and
not getting anything in return, you only offer
jobs to us contractors when 1t suits you. The
outstanding account will be payed.
V.C. Arbon. "
Mr. Guilford worked from 8 October to mid December 1980 and
during that period earned, inclusive of commission paid to
Aquajet, $1,769. During an interview with Mr. Nolan shortly
after seeing the advertisement he was told that he should earn
$500-$600 per week easily. When he asked in November whether ~
any work was available he was told "No".
ll.
Mr. Kewley earned in the period 6 July to 2 August 1980 $210, .°
$35 in each of the first two weeks and $140 in the last week. He
earned nothing in the third week and nothing for the period of six
weeks subsequent to 2 August 1980. He said he complained on a
number of occasions concerning the lack of work.
Mr. Nicholson answered an advertisement on 3 June 1980 and
commenced work on 18 June 1980. During the next three weeks
work was made available to him on only one occasion.
Mr. Jasper commenced work on 22 November 1980 and his total .
earnings from that date until 28 February 1981 were $1,408, an
average of $150 per week. He complained in 1981 of the lack of
work. During only one week of the period did he earn in excess of
$400.
Mr. Wilson commenced work on 2 September 1980 and worked
until the end of January 1981. During this period he earned
inclusive of commission $3,120, being weekly average earning
of $149. During one week only, in September 1980, did his
earnings exceed $400 per week,
Mr. Marshall worked for four weeks from 10 December 1980
until 10 January 1981. He said that he did not in any week earn
more than $48.
Mr. Sutcliffe worked from mid September 1980 to the end of
October of that year. During this period he earned a total amount
of no more than $300.
12.
At the end of December 1980 being the time when the first advertise-
ment, the subject of a charge, was inserted, Aquajet and Mr. Nolan
were aware or should have been aware of the earnings of these sub-
contractors and the amount of work Aquayet was providing for them.
At the end of each week or day it was the practice of sub-contractors
to attend at the office of the company and account for their earnings
and Aquajet's commission. Prior to the commencement of proceedings
Aquajet provided the office of the Trade Practices Commission in
Adelaide with a list of sub-contractors employed from 1 January 1980
to 30 June 1981, their earnings and the amount of commission paid
to Aquajet by each employee. The information in this list
substantially confirmed the evidence of the sub-contractors.
Mrs. Nolan who worked throughout the relevant period with
Aquajet and who was a director, confirmed that sub-contractors were
¢gomplaining about the amount of work available to them from July
1980 to March 1981. The figure of $800 per week was first
included in an advertisement appearing on 18 December 1980. Mr.
Tack, a former employee of Aquajet said 'that Mrs. Nolan at the time
suggested to Mr. Nolan that this figure of $800, was too high, to
which he replied "stiff".
Each sub-contractor who answered the advertisement was
interviewed by an employee of Aquajet who explained the arrangements
between the sub-contractor and the company and that employment was
conditional upon the purchase of a carpet cleaning machine for
$3,500. Except to the extent expressly mentioned in these reasons,
I have excluded from consideration these conversations. The question
whether the advertisement is misleading must turn on the terms of the
13.
advertisement itself, and not on subsequent explanations or comments
by officers of Aquajet 1n conversations with individual sub-
contractors.
It is significant that Aquajet commenced manufacturing carpet
cleaning machines at the beginning of 1980. The price of $3,500
at which each sub-contractor was required to purchase a machine
produced a clear profit of $1,000 per machine to Aquajet. The last of
sub-contractors previously mentioned as provided by Aquajet disclosed
that during the period of 18 months 53 sub-contractors were engaged
and each purchased a machine. The resulting profit to Aquajet was in
the vicinity of $53,000 whereas the commissions earned for Aquajet
by the sub-contractors during the same period totalled approximately
$22,910. It is apparent that Aquajet earned a greater profit from
the sale of machines than it did by way of commissions, particularly
as Aquajet in earning commissions incurred the wages of salesmen.
A number of passages of evidence indicated very clearly that
Aquajet was motivated in engaging sub-contractors by the fact that
it thereby obtained sales of machines. There was no evidence that
it needed the services of all the sub-contractors, of more than a
very few sub-contractors, at any particular time for the purpose
of performing carpet cleaning work. Aquajet employed a number of
full-time carpet cleaners, called operators, and available work was
given in priority to them with sub-contractors receiving only what,
1f any, remained.
This was the position of which Aquajet and Mr. Nolan was or
should have been aware at the end of December 1980. There was no
evidence that the amount of work available had improved when the
14.
next advertisement was inserted on 22 January 1981. In fact at
this time Mr. Jasper was complaining to Mr, Nolan and also Mr. Watt
concerning the lack of work. He had not been allocated any work by
the company during the month of January.
Mr. Hill gave evidence that as from April 1980 he was engaged
as an employee in the manufacture of carpet cleaning machines for
Aquajet. Prior to that date they had been brought in from Queensland.
He said that at the end of 1980 there was plenty of unsold stock of
machines on hand. Early in 1981 he was approached by Mr. Nolan
with the proposition that he should replace Mr. Tack as general
manager, his duties mainly being concerned with the selling of
machines. When he asked Mr, Nolan why he dad not advertise the
machines for sale, Mr. Nolan said that nobody would buy them, He
also passed on to Mr. Nolan complaints he received from sub-
contractors in respect of lack of work and particularly remembered
Mr. Nolan saying on one occasion "don't worry about it". Mr. Richards,
who ultimately succeeded Mr. Hill as general manager agreed that
the emphasis in the activities of Aquajet was on the selling of
machines, although no advertisements were inserted to the effect that
Aquajet had machines for sale. To a significant extent the only
sales of machines in South Australia were to sub-contractors engaged
as a result of advertisements.
A. Mr. Del Vecchio answered the advertisement on 31 December
1980. He collected his machine on 6 February 1981 and worked until
the end of April. During this period of some 10 weeks he earned
$947. He complained to Mr. Tack in March 1981 concerning his
earnings.
15. !
Mr. Sonntag was engaged as a result of the advertisement of
22 January 1981. He was subsequently told at an interview that
he could easily earn $80 per day. He said that there was a
reasonable amount of work available to him during the first and
second week of his employment. Thereafter it fell away and he
made numerous enquiries and complaints. However, still no work
was given to him. He said he was in the habit of enquiring on
2 or 3 occasions each day, 5 days a week. His wife said that she
saw Mr. Tack on 13 March 1981 and said "why is the company still
advertising for additional carpet cleaners when they have not got
work for my husband". Notwithstanding this very pertinent
enquiry, Aquajet lodged an advertisement on 19 March and 24 March
1981. Mr.Tack himself said that when in mid February 1981 he
passed to Mr. Nolan a complaint from a sub-contractor concerning
the amount of work available to him, Mr. Nolan said "stiff, they
bought the machines, frankly I'm not particularly worried. There
will be some work availablefor them sometime; that's all I'm
prepared to say".
Mrs. Nolan said that most complaints which she received
occurred in late December 1980 and through the early months of
1981. She said that advertising continued notwithstanding and
without reference to the complaints. They continued to be inserted
she said, and the complaints had no effect on the number or
frequency of advertisements or their content. She agreed that
Aquajet wanted to sell as many machines as possible and was
inserting advertisements to assist these sales. Mr, Tack confirmed
that in January and February 1981 there was a "push" to sell
machines and certainly the number of occasions upon which
advertisements were inserted in the period December 1980 to
16.
March 1981 substantially exceeded that of any earlier period.
Mr. Wolf answered the advertisement of 18 February 1981
and worked as a sub-contractor for Aquajet during March, April,
May and June 1981. He earned a maximum amount of $119 in any week
from all sources, which sum was after payment of commission to
Aquajet.
There is no necessity for me to go more deeply into this
evidence as no serious attempt was made by either of the defendants
to contradict or explain it. Mr. Nolan on a number of occasions
said in his evidence that he believed it was possible for persons -
who worked hard to earn up to $800 per week from all sources.
However he agreed that the average person seeking this type of '
employment would find 1t difficult to obtain work from outside zs
sources unless he was a good salesman. Mr. Nolan's evidence as to
his state of mind at the time of each advertisement was thoroughly
unsatisfactory. I have no hesitation in finding that he was
"recklessly indifferent concerning the forecast or prediction" in
each advertisement as to the earnings there stated and his blame-
worthy state of mind is that of Aquajet.
He conceded that as managing director of Aquajet he was involved
in everything "from sweeping the floor up". There was much evidence
which I accept, that he authorised the insertion of the advertisements
and that he was aware of their contents.
Towards the end of the defence evidence and whilst Mr. Nolan
was in the witness box, he dispensed with the services of his
17.
legal advisors who were also acting for Aquajet. Thereafter
Aquajet was not, other than spasmodically, represented by counsel.
He then for the first time took the point that he had not been served
with a summons in respect of any of the charges against him. It
became apparent, and was not disputed that his solicitor had "accepted |
service" of each summons on his behalf. Mr. Nolan said that he did
not become aware that he was personally charged with any offence
until the evening of the first day of trial. No point was thereafter
taken on his account by counsel who appeared for him and Mr. Nolan
was not personally present in Court until shortly before he gave
evidence. Having dismissed his then legal advisors he contended
that as he had not been personally served in accordance with the
provisions of s.27 of the Justices Act 1921 of South Australia, the
Court had no jurisdiction to proceed with the charges against him.
This contention was subsequently taken up by new solicitors and counsel'
whom he engaged only on his behalf.
In my opinion there 1s nothing in the point primarily because
Mr. Nolan did not dispute the fact that he was represented in Court .
by his counsel from the commencement of the hearing. In these
circumstances the jurisdiction of the Court to hear charges against
him is a consequence of the laying of the informations and does not
depend upon personal service of the three summons. So long as the
defendant 1s present personally or by counsel, the Court 1s entitled
to proceed notwithstanding the defective service. It is otherwise
under s.62 of the Justices Act 1921 if the Court is requested to
hear the charges ex parte.
18.
The matter of service and jurisdiction under the Justices
Act 1921 was considered by the Full Court of the Supreme Court of
South Australia in Willing v Hollobone (No. 2) (1975) 11 S.A.S.R. 118.
At page 132 Walters J. (with whom the other members of the Court
agreed), said:
"In any event, 1f there were any doubt about the service
of the summons, the defect was cured by the appellant's
appearance before the court and by his conducting his
case in answer to the charge (Willing v Young (No. 2)
(1973) 7 S.A.S.R. 368, and the authorities cited in my
reasons for judgment at pp.370-372). And in this connection
I add a reference to the remarks of Windeyer J. in
Electronic Rentais Pty. Ltd. v Anderson (1971) 124 C.L-.R.
27, at p.44. Where the learned Judge said:
'The jurisdiction of a magistrate depends upon there
being an information. It does not depend on the summons.
The invalidity of a summons does not affect the
jurisdiction to hear the charge. Davidson J, pointed
that out in Ex parte Hughes; Ré Moulden (1946) 47 S.R.
(N.S.W.) 91, at p.97. Moreover, the applicant, a
corporation, appeared before the magistrate by counsel:
and it well knew what was the offence with which it was
charged.'
In my opinion, there is no substance in the third ground
of appeal, and it fails."
I adopt and apply this authority and its reasoning to the
facts of this matter. There is no substance in the point taken by
Mr. Nolan.
I find that the prosecutrix has made out her case to the
requisite degree of certainty on each of the charges. There 1s no
doubt that each statement which formed the basis of the particular
charge was a statement as to remuneration and therefore as to the
profitability of the business activity of a sub-contractor. Implicit
in the statement was a representation that the maker of the statement
believed in its truth. I must find that Mr. Nolan could not in
the circumstances have conscientiously held such a belief and his
>
19.
state of mind, as managing director, is the state of mind of
Aquajet. If he did hold such a belief, it was a reckless belief
which 'he could not conscientiously have held if he gave consideration
as he should have, to the current and past earnings of sub-
contractors and the amount of work available generally to them. In
the circumstances the statements were all misleading in that a
person reading the advertisement would be led into the error of
believing that there were sound reasons for anticipating that he
would earn the stated remuneration. As I have already said, if the
statements were as to the past or present earnings of persons in
the position of sub-contractors, they were false and thus misleading.
Moreover they were certainly statements which were misleading in
a material particular and I so find. The charges against Aquajet
are made out and I will in due course enter convictions.
Mr. Nolan was charged with being knowingly concerned in the
contraventions by Aquajet. It was not suggested that as managing
director responsible in the ultimate for the insertion of the
advertisements and their contents he could avoid conviction if
Aquajet was found to have contravened. I would find that he was
quite indifferent concerning the predictions as to remuneration
in the advertisements, which were inserted for the purpose of
attracting potential purchasers of carpet cleaning machines. When
I have heard from him and Aquajet on the question of appropriate
penalties I will formally enter convictions on each of the charges.
I refer the parties to the provisions of 0.49 r.5 of the Rules
of this Court.
i certity that this and ine IS preceding
pages are a true copy ofthe Reasons for
Judgment of Mr. Justice Fisher .
< SS ALA
Dated? ,27/ 7). / 1A