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HODGEKISS v CHALLENGE BANK LTD
SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES — COURT OF APPEAL
PRIESTLEY JA, SHELLER JA and COLE JA
6 November 1995
[1995] NSWCA 195
Priestley JA. This is an application for the review of a decision made by
Powell JA on 19 August 1995 dismissing an application by mortgagors for a stay
of execution of an order for possession which was made by Young J in respect
of mortgaged property which we are told is the residence of the mortgagors.
Having heard the reasons advanced why Powell JA came to a wrong
conclusion in deciding to dismiss the mortgagors" application it has become
clear, so far as the court can see, that the essence of Powell JA's decision was
correct, there has been no evidence available of a substantial kind to support the
view that the mortgagors have been in a position actually to have somebody else
produce the minimum amount of money that would be necessary, on any view,
to pay out the mortgagee.
The court has been told that a gentleman mentioned in an affidavit that was
before Powell JA is genuinely believed to be able to finance the mortgagors out
of their present problems. There is no evidence that the court can act on to that
effect before the court.
In those circumstances the application to review must be dismissed but the
court is prepared to take the same attitude as Powell JA did. He concluded his
reasons by saying that he would order execution on the order for possession be
stayed for a period, that being to enable the mortgagors to seek review of his
decision.
This court would not anticipate any viable further proceeding being taken from
here, but is prepared to stay execution of the order for possession up to and
including 13 November 1995 to give the mortgagors one last chance to produce
money of a sufficient order to warrant the granting of a stay. All the material to
date indicates that that is unlikely to happen and I would make it clear what the
court has in mind is that the application for review is dismissed, the stay I have
mentioned will be granted simply for one week. If within the week the
mortgagors are able to put themselves in a position to make an application for a
stay supported by proof of availability of an appropriate amount of money then
it would be up to them to make a further original application for a stay.
The court makes the orders I have indicated and dismisses the application with
costs.
Orders accordingly.