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Smart Summary

Structured Summary of the Provided Opinion

Factual and Procedural Background

This appeal arises from a suit by plaintiffs (merchants of Madura dealing in yarn and cloth) for damages for non-acceptance of goods which the plaintiffs agreed to sell to the defendants. The Subordinate Judge dismissed the suit and the plaintiffs appealed.

The parties contracted on 20 August 1918 (Ex. A) for 50 bales (each bale = 20 bundles; each bundle was represented as 10 lbs.) of "double deer yarn (Palukka)" at Rs. 21 per bundle. The defendants were represented by a broker. The defendants' chitta contains a matching entry for the same date (Ex. I). The plaintiffs received advances (Rs. 1,250 acknowledged in Ex. B; Rs. 100 earnest-money and Rs. 25 advance per bale).

The plaintiffs obtained yarn from Bombay/Pedlad. They informed defendants by Ex. C (23 September 1918) that 20 bales were ready; records show 50 bales arrived in Bombay on 14 August and reached Madras in September (30 bales on 18th, 20 bales on 22nd). Defendants accepted 5 bales on 5 October and 5 on 14 October, but did not accept or inspect the remaining 40 bales. Plaintiffs issued notices (Ex. D on 21 October 1918; Ex. E on 7 January 1919) stating goods would be sold if not taken; after alleged resale plaintiffs filed the suit on 6 August (year shown in text).

The Subordinate Judge found for the defendants, concluding plaintiffs had not proved that the 40 unaccepted bales matched the contract description and that there was no proof these goods were from the Pedlad factory. The appellants (plaintiffs) appealed that dismissal.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the defendants committed a breach of contract by refusing to accept and by remaining silent with respect to the 40 bales tendered by the plaintiffs (and whether that conduct amounted to repudiation and waiver of conditions precedent).
  2. Whether the plaintiffs had proven that the 40 bales tendered complied with the contract description (count and weight) such that defendants' refusal could be justified.
  3. Whether, on the facts, the plaintiffs were entitled to damages for the 40 bales and, if so, how those damages should be calculated (dates of breach and market price to be applied).
  4. Whether the legal principle in Braithwaite v. Foreign Hardwood Co. Ltd. (1905) (and its later treatment) applies to this case, i.e., whether a buyer who repudiates cannot later avoid liability by showing that the goods tendered were not of the contract description.

Arguments of the Parties

Appellants' (Plaintiffs') Arguments

  • The goods tendered in pursuance of Ex. C complied with the terms of the contract.
  • Evidence of certain witnesses (P.W. No. 2 and D.W.s Nos. 2 and 3) and trade testimony was relied upon to show that Pedlad factory produced an orange-dyed yarn generally marked as count 20 and 10 lbs. bundle; in trade usage counts from 20 to 25 might be treated as equivalent for practical purposes.
  • Even if earlier deliveries showed higher counts, plaintiffs could and would have remedied any non-conformity if defendants had inspected or accepted the tenders; defendants' silence and failure to inspect amounted to a repudiation and waiver of conditions precedent.
  • Plaintiffs asserted specific dates of breach (23 September 1918 for first lot, 21 October 1918 for second lot) and sought damages measured by the difference between the contract price and the market price on those dates, less advances.

Respondents' (Defendants') Arguments

  • Defendants pleaded that after accepting some bales (5 on 5 October and 5 on 14 October) those bales were opened and found not to conform: packets were not 10 lbs and yarn was not 20 count but of about 8½ lbs. weight and higher count; defendants reported this on 17 October 1918 and alleged that the contract was cancelled.
  • Defendants' counsel contended Braithwaite could not apply because (1) Braithwaite turned on an express repudiation long before the goods arrived (an anticipating breach), and (2) Braithwaite had been disapproved by the House of Lords (argument advanced before the Court).
  • Defendants relied on the sample/expert evidence from the delivered 10 bales to show non-conformity and sought to extend that to the unaccepted 40 bales.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Braithwaite v. Foreign Hardwood Co. Ltd. (1905) 2 K.B. 543; 74 L.J.K.B. 688; 92 L.T. 637; 21 T.L.R. 413; 10 Com. Cas. 189; 10 Asp. M.C. 52 That a buyer who repudiates or refuses to accept goods cannot later avoid liability to pay damages by proving that the goods tendered were not of the contract description; repudiation may absolve the seller from performing conditions precedent (waiver). The court treated Braithwaite as valid law and directly applicable by analogy: the defendants' silence/repudiation amounted to waiver of conditions precedent and prevented them from later relying on non-conformity as a defence with respect to the 40 unaccepted bales.
Taylor v. Oakes, Roncoroni Co. (1922) 127 L.T. 267; 27 Com. Cas. 261; 66 S.J. 556; 38 T.L.R. 517 Discusses distinctions between types of repudiation (express vs. implied/polite repudiation) and interpretation of Braithwaite; whether a buyer's anticipatory breach operates as repudiation. The court compared the present facts to Taylor as supporting the view that implied repudiation by silence can stand on the same footing as an express repudiation; it regarded the present case as "on all fours" with Taylor.
Ridgway v. Hungerford Market Co. (1835) 3 Ad. & E. 171; 4 N. & M. 797; 1 H. & W. 211; 4 L.J.K.B. 157 Authorities relied on (through other judgments) regarding whether a seller's tender of goods that are not substantially of the contract kind affects liability; cited by Greer, J. in interpretation discussions. Mentioned in analysis of Greer, J.'s reasoning — used to canvass limits where an actual tender of specific goods that are non-conforming might alter the outcome; the court observed the discussion but did not treat these cases as displacing Braithwaite.
Boston Deep Sea Fishing Co. v. Ansell (1888) 39 Ch. D. 339; 59 L.T. 345 Cited in the context of Greer, J.'s view regarding application of master-and-servant authorities to sale-of-goods contexts. Referenced in argument summary regarding the limits of Braithwaite; court noted such remarks were not sufficient to displace the Braithwaite principle in the present case.
British and Benningtons, Ltd. v. N.W. Cachar Tea Co. (1923) A.C. 48; 92 L.J.K.B. 62; 128 L.T. 422; 28 Com. Cas. 265 House of Lords consideration of Braithwaite: points on interpretation of Braithwaite and the meaning of "readiness and willingness"; Lord Sumner and Lord Atkinson's remarks on the seller's offer and the buyer's repudiation. The court discussed this case at length and concluded Lord Sumner did not dissent from Braithwaite; the decision was treated as confirming Braithwaite's principle and did not displace it for present purposes.
De Medina v. Norman (1842) 9 M. & W. 820; 2 Dowl. (N.S.) 239 Authority on the meaning of "readiness" and "willingness" to perform obligations (capacity to perform is included). Cited via Lord Atkinson's discussion in British and Benningtons to support the proposition that an offer to perform can satisfy the condition of "readiness and willingness."
Jones v. Barkley (1781) 2 Doug. 684; 99 E.R. 434 Quoted for the proposition that if the other party stops the first party from performing because of intention not to perform, it is unnecessary for the first to go further to show readiness. Used in the chain of authorities (via British and Benningtons) to support that a buyer's prevention of performance negates the need for further acts by the seller to show readiness.
Gort v. Ambergate, etc., Railway Co. (1851) 17 Q.B. 127 Example cited where an offer to perform (readiness/willingness) sufficed though specific goods were not yet made but could be made at short notice (railway chairs example). Referred to in the discussion of what constitutes readiness to perform; it supported the view that an offer may suffice where performance is possible.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court's analysis proceeded in the following principal steps (faithful to the material in the opinion):

  1. Factual appraisal: The court found the defendants' overall attitude was one of silence and non-response after plaintiffs gave timely notices that goods were ready (Ex. C for first lot, Ex. D for remaining lot). Defendants accepted only 10 bales (5 on 5 October and 5 on 14 October) and took no steps to inspect or communicate about the remaining 40; they were thus treated as having broken/repudiated the contract without giving a reason.
  2. Evidence on conformity: Defendants produced one bundle from delivered bales and an expert examined 12 skeins, finding an average count implying higher count (24.4) than 20 and a packet weight below 10 lbs. The court observed that sampling 12 skeins is an inadequate test of an entire bale (which contains tens of thousands of skeins) and that the sample showed variation. The court declined to treat the sample from the accepted 10 bales as dispositive of the identity of the 40 unaccepted bales which were never identified or inspected.
  3. Pleadings and proof limitations: The court emphasized that plaintiffs' pleadings did not present the trade-usage theory (that Pedlad produced a single commercial product labelled "20 count" that for practice ranges to 25). Because that argument was not properly pleaded and the evidence was thin (too few trade witnesses), the court would not make the inference plaintiffs sought on trade usage.
  4. Legal principle on waiver/repudiation: The court analysed Braithwaite and subsequent commentary (Taylor; British and Benningtons) and concluded that Braithwaite remains good law. The court applied the Braithwaite principle to hold that defendants' repudiatory conduct (silence/refusal to accept and failure to inspect) amounted to a waiver of conditions precedent, preventing defendants from later relying on non-conformity (absent a showing that the seller was wholly disabled from performing).
  5. Application to present facts: Because there was no evidence that plaintiffs were wholly unable to supply conforming bales and because the 40 bales were never inspected or identified as non-conforming, the court concluded plaintiffs were always willing and able to perform and that defendants' repudiation absolved plaintiffs from further performance of conditions precedent. Consequently the plaintiffs were entitled to damages for the 40 bales.
  6. Calculation and dates: The court accepted plaintiffs' pleaded dates of breach (23 September 1918 for the first lot and 21 October 1918 for the second) and held damages should be the difference between contract price and market price on the dates of breach, less Rs. 1,000 already paid as advance. The court declined to adopt a later breach date to increase damages and (on principle) preferred not to allow pre-suit interest but did not differ from the co-judge on that minor point.
  7. Costs and further observations: The court ordered proportionate costs in both Courts and noted that a separate suit exists concerning the 10 bales accepted by defendants (for breach of warranty) — the present decision concerns only the 40 unaccepted bales.

Holding and Implications

Holding:

PLAINTIFFS' APPEAL ALLOWED IN PART — plaintiffs are entitled to a decree for damages in respect of the 40 unaccepted bales.

The court awarded damages calculated as the difference between the contract price and the market price on the dates of breach (23 September 1918 and 21 October 1918) for the 40 bales, less Rs. 1,000 (advance). The judgment sets the arithmetic result in the opinion as Rs. 3,925 less Rs. 1,000 = Rs. 2,925, together with interest at 6% up to the date of the opinion and thereafter 6% on the aggregate amount until payment, and with proportionate costs in both Courts.

Consequences and broader implications:

  • Direct effect on the parties: Defendants must pay the damages awarded (Rs. 2,925 as calculated in the opinion) with the specified interest and bear proportionate costs as directed.
  • On precedent and doctrine: The court expressly treated Braithwaite v. Foreign Hardwood Co. Ltd. (1905) as remaining good law for the proposition that a buyer who repudiates or refuses to accept goods cannot later avoid liability by proving non-conformity, unless the seller was wholly disabled from performance. The court did not purport to set a new landmark precedent; rather, it applied existing authorities (including discussion of later cases) and affirmed that Braithwaite's principle governs the facts of this case.

This summary is limited to and derived exclusively from the content of the provided opinion. No information beyond the text has been added.

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    N M Rayulu Iyer, Nagasami Iyer v. Thirukonda M Kuppu Iyer And Sons

    1. This appeal arises out of a suit for damages for non-acceptance of goods agreed to be sold to defendants by plaintiffs. The Subordinate Judge dismissed the suit The plaintiffs appeal.

    2. The plaintiffs and defendants are me chants of Madura dealing in yarn and cloth. On 20th August 1918, Ex. A was executed for the purchase of 50 bales (each of 20 bundles) of "double deer yarn (Palukka)" at Rs. 21 per bundle, the defendants being represented by broker K.M. Nagaswami Iyer. Exhibit I is the corresponding entry in defendants' chitta of the same date. Rs. 100 was paid as earnest-money and Rs. 25 was to be paid as advance for each bale. Exhibit B is the letter of plaintiffs dated 24th August 1918 acknowledging the receipt of Rs. 1,250 as advances and promising to intimate the arrival of the bales from Bombay. It shows that the bales contracted for were out of the bales ordered for by the plaintiffs' Bombay firm from the dyeing factory at Pedlad.

    3. The plaintiffs got Pedlad yam from Bombay in September 1918. On the 23rd September, by Ex. C, plaintiffs gave intimation to defendants that they had 20 bales ready for delivery out of those contracted for in August. Answer No. 2 to the interrogatories served on the plaintiffs shows that 50 bales arrived in Bombay on 14th August and they arrived in Madras in September, 30 bales on 18th and 20 bales on 22nd September. The defendants waited for sometime and took delivery of 5 of the bales on 5th October and another 5 of the bales on 14th October. The plaintiffs gave notice by Ex. D dated 21st October 1918 that the remaining 30 bales (according to the contract Ex. A) were ready for delivery. The defendants did nothing. By Ex. E, dated 7th January 1919 the plaintiffs gave notice that if the balance of 40 bales were not received, they would be sold at defendants' risk. There was no reply from the defendants. The plaintiffs alleging that the goods have been sold on 9th March 1919, and after a further notice dated 27th March 1919 (Ex. F) filed the present suit on August 6th.

    4. From the above history of the case, it is clear that the defendants' attitude was one of silence. The reason for this was obviously the continuously falling market which was conceded and assumed by both parlies in the argument before us. The defendants must be regarded as having broken the contract without giving any reason for the breach.

    5. In the written statement, their plea, is that, after the goods were accepted on 5th October 1918 and 14th October 1918 some of the said bales were opened and it was found "that the packets are not those of 10 lbs., weight which the parties agreed to supply to the defendants. Nor is the yarn of 20 counts. They are of 8i lbs., weight "" That matter was reported by the defendants to the plaintiffs on 17th October 1918 and the contract was cancelled". These sentences, I have quoted, practically constitute the whole defence. It is clear from this that, so far as the balance of 10 bales offered by Ex. O and not accepted and the 30 bales offered by Ex. D, there is no other defence except the cancellation of the contract. But, at the time of the first hearing, the defendants raised only the third issue, viz., whether the goods tendered were not of the description in the agreement dated 4th August 19,18 and no issue was raised about cancellation of the contract by mutual consent.

    6. To prove their plea on the 3rd issue the defendants produced one of the bundles out of the bales supplied to them and this was tested by an expert to whom it was sent by the Court. He examined 12 skeins (1 skein = 120 yards; 1 hank = 7 skeins = 840 yards. A bundle contains 10 packets. A packet weighs 1 lb. The number of hanks in a packet determines the count. If there are 20 hanks in a packet so that the weight of hank is 1 lb: by 20 and the weight of a skein is 1000 grains by 20 or 50 grains the count of the yam is 20. If the skein weighs less, the count is higher). The expert found in the present case that the average of the weight of the skeins examined by him is 408 grains and the count is, therefore, 24'4. When we remember that a bale consists of 20 bundles, or 200 packets or (according to the average of the expert) 4,880 hanks or 34,160 skeins, it is difficult to regard an examination of 12 skeins as a test of 34160 skeins. If a bale is of the right kind of yarn of No. 20 count, it ought to contain 4,000 hanks or 28,000 skeins. Even if one may assume that the bale out of which the 12 skeins examined by the expert is all of yarn of an average 24.4 count, it is difficult to assume that the other nine bales, contained yarn of the same average count. Even the 12 skeins examined by ex-pert show considerable variety ranging from 23.2 to 25.5.

    7. We are not dealing with the 10 bales accepted and paid for by the defendants. We are informed as to those, a separate suit has been filed by the defendants for breach of warranty.

    8. But as to the other 40 bales, the Subordinate Judge having regard to the fact that the 10 bales actually delivered did not contain yarn of No. 20 count and seeing that plaintiffs have not produced samples of packets from the 40 bales, held that the plaintiffs have not proved that the 40 bales answered to the description in the contract and found the issue against the plaintiffs. He also held that there is no proof that the goods were from Pedlad factory. As to this, it is enough to observe that no such plea was raised in the written statement even as to the 10 bales delivered and the only complaint made related to the count and weight.

    9. On these facts the plaintiffs' Vakil first contended that the goods tendered in pursuance of Ex. C complied with the terms of the contract. He relied on the evidence of P.W. No. 2 and D. W.s Nos. 2 and 3 and sought to draw the following inferences: That the Pedlad factory was only turning out one kind of orange dyed yarn marked count 20, a bundle of which is marked as weighing 10 lbs. That as a matter of fact, its count, is not exactly 20 but over it. That for all practical purposes counts from 20 to 25 are regarded as the same by the people who deal in them. That, the subject of the contract, before us is really not yarn of exactly 20 counts or bundles of 10 lbs., but what the Pedlad factory was turning out with labels of 20 counts and 10 lbs. I have a strong suspicion that this contention of the appellants is probably true, but unfortunately the pleadings have not been framed on such a basis. As soon as the defendants pleaded that the goods delivered on 5th and 14th October did not answer to the description in the contract, the plaint must have been suitably amended or the issues should have been made to cover what the plaintiffs now suggest. This was not done. Another difficulty is that the evidence is far too meagre to justify findings in favour of the appellants. The point raised by them require that more persons engaged in the trade should be examined to prove the trade usage. Incidentally, I am also constrained to observe that evidence is not recorded so as to make the evidence intelligible. For instance, I would refer, to P.W. No. 2. His master sells count No. 20. The packet goes by the name of 10 lbs. packet. There is no other goods of that denomination." Now seeing that a packet of count 20 must weigh 10 lbs., the words goes by the name of are meaningless. Nor can there be other goods of that denomination. What was meant was: A yarn marked count 20 whether it is really that count or not is the only thing available in the market and there is no other if we find it actually to be count 24.4 this does not matter. This is all that is known as count 20 and 10 lbs. weight. This meaning is not brought out in the deposition. Similar sentences in the evidence of D.W. No. 1 and D.W. No. 3 are similarly recorded. But, as I said on the pleadings and the meagre evidence, it is mot possible to record the finding the appellants require. One can only hope that he will gain by this experience iii the other case. The next question is: whether the defendants by their breach in not taking delivery of the other 10 bales (relating to Ex. O.) after accepting the first 10 bales and not caring to respond to the offer in Ex. D., have committed such a breach of the contract as to amount to a waiver of all conditions precedent binding on the plaintiffs. The appellants rely on Braithwaite v. Foreign Hardwood Co. Ltd. (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52. In that case there was a repudiation by the defendants on October, 5, long before the, goods arrived. The Bill of Lading arrived on October 30, and the plaintiffs not accepting the repudiation by the defendants, (dated 5th October) tendered two Bills of Lading to the defendants who refused to accept it or pay for the rosewood comprised in it. The goods arrived on November 9, and were sold by the plaintiffs, as against the defendants. Collins, M.R. said with reference to the second repudiation at page 551 Page of (1905) 2 K.B.-[Ed.]: "In my opinion that act of the defendants amounted in fact to a waiver by them of the performance by the plaintiff of the conditions precedent which would otherwise have been necessary to the enforcement by him of the contract which I am assuming he had elected to keep alive against the defendants notwithstanding their prior repudiation, and it is not competent for the defendants now to hark back and say that the plaintiff was not ready and willing to perform the conditions precedent devolving upon him, and that if they had known the facts they might have rejected the instalment when tendered to them.... The defendants are not in a position now, by reason of their after-acquired knowledge, to set up a defence which they previously elected not to make. We must in such a case look to see whether, at the time of each alleged breach, each side was ready and willing to perform the conditions of the contract which it lay upon them to perform, and there was clearly a breach by the defendants, for they had by their own act absolved the plaintiff from the performance of the conditions of the contract." Mathew, L.J., said at page 554 Page of (1905) 2 K.B.-[Ed.]: "But they repudiated the whole contract, and by so doing clearly absolved the plaintiff from the performance of conditions precedent which in the ordinary course he would have been obliged to perform." Cozens Hardy, L.J., agreed. Mr. Anantakrishna Iyer who appeared for the defendants contended that Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52: cannot apply for two reasons: (1) In that case there was an express repudiation on 5th October, and at or about October 30th. The anticipating breach of 5th October is the crux of that case; (2) the case was also disapproved by the House of Lords. As to the first point, the distinction sought somewhat resembles the distinction sought to be made out in Taylor v. Jakes Roncoroni and Co. (1922) 127 L.T. 267 : 27 Com. Cas. 261 : 66 S.J. 556 : 38 T.L.R. 517, Bankes, L.J says at page 271 Page of (1922) 127 L.T.-[Ed.]: " But Mr. Merri-man seeks to distinguish this case,...by endeavouring to convince us that a distinction must be drawn where the repudiation consists of a curt and impolite disclaimer of the existence of a contract and a very polite statement that, under circumstances over which the buyer has no control, he is unable to take the goods." Mr. Ananthakrishna Iyer's distinction is not between 'Impolite' and 'polite' repudiation but between "express" and 'Implied' repudiation. The implied repudiation by silence resembles a 'polite' repudiation. But it stands on the same footing as an express repudiation. The second point raised by him requires more careful consideration. It is clear that, according to Collins, M.R. the contract was kept alive upto October 30th by the plaintiff's non-acceptance of the earlier repudiation and the waiver of the conditions precedent is the result of the latter act. Mathews, L.J., seems to be of the same opinion though his view is not very explicit. In Taylor v. Oakes, Roncoroni Co. (1922) 127 L.T. 267 : 27 Com. Cas. 261 : 66 S.J. 556 : 38 T.L.R. 517 Greaves, J., seems to have felt some difficulty as to the application of Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52. His view seems to be that, if specific goods were actually tendered on the second occasion and were not substantially of the kind contracted for, the defendants in Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 would not have been liable. For this view, he relies on Ridgway v. Hunger ford. Market Co. (1835) 3 Ad. & E. 171 : 4 N. & M. 797 : 1 H. & W. 211 : 4 L.J.K.B. 157 : 111 B.K. 378 : 42 R.R. 352 and Boston Deep See Fishing Co. v. Ansell (1888) 39 Ch. D. 339 : 59 L.T. 345 which are cases of master and servant and thinks that the principle applies equally to a contract for the sale of goods. He gets over the difficulty by explaining that, in Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 the second offer by plaintiffs, was not an actual tender of the goods but a mere offer to tender them and, therefore the offer is not an actual breach of contract. One may observe here that the second offer is of the actual Bills of Lading relating to certain specific goods on the " Spheriod" and the goods were not only ascertained but were afterwards identified and their nature known. 1 confess that the difficulties in understanding Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 are not solved by Greer, J.'s explanation of it. On appeal Scrutton, L.J., and Atkin, L. J., refused to be drawn by Greer, J., into a discussion of Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52. They were of opinion that, on the facts of the case before them, the point did not arise. In that case, by letters' which passed between the parties in December, the defendants stopped delivery of the balance of the goods and refused to accept them. There was neither tender of specific goods nor tender of a Bill of Lading relating to actual specific goods, the nature of which was afterwards known. Such a repudiation was held to be, 'anticipatory.' Bankes, L.J., said: "It seems to me, after the decision in Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 which binds this Court, that where there has been a repudiation by way of anticipatory breach, etc." His view seems to be that the second repudiation in Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 is also an anticipatory breach, and he agreed with Greer, J.'s view--a point into which, the other Lord Justices refused to be drawn. According to them on the facts it was a clearer case than Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 and that was enough, In my opinion, the present case is an a fortiori case and the difficulties in understanding Barithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52, need not affect it. It is, in my opinion, on all fours with the facts of Taylor v. Oakes, Roncoroni Co. (1922) 127 L.T. 267 : 27 Com. Cas. 261 : 66 S.J. 556 : 38 T.L.R. 517.

    10. The next case I need discuss is British and Beninglons, Ltd. v. N.W. Cachar Tea, Co, (1923) A.C. 48 : 92 L.J.K.B. 62 : 128 L.T. 422 : 28 Com. Cas. 265. Only Lord Atkinson and Lord Sumner, delivered judgments. Lords Buckmaster and Carson agreed with Lord Summer. Lord Wrenbury merely concurred. On the disposal of the case before them, there was no difference of opinion. It was only about the proper interpretation of Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 that Lord Sumner thought some criticism had to be made, Lord Atkinson after pointing out that "readiness" and. "willingness" includes the capacity to perform citing Lord Abinger in De Medina v. Norman (1842) 9 M. & W. 820 at p. 827 : 2 Dowl. (N.S.) 239 : 11 L.J. Ex. 320 : 152 E.R. 347 : 60 R.R. 612 proceeds to cite Lord Mansfield in Jones v. Barkley (1781) 2 Doug. 684 at p. 694 : 99 E.R. 434 and Lord Campbell in Gort v. Ambergate, etc., Railway Co. (1851) 17 Q.B. 127 at pp. 143 : 144 : 20 L.J.Q.B. 460 : 15 Jur. 877 : 117 E.R. 1229 : 85 R.R. 369 for the position that the condition of "readiness and willingness" is satisfied by the offer of the plaintiffs to perform. The latter case is of a case of "Railway chairs" which were not actually made but which presumably could be made at short notice. He then refers to Braithivaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 and quotes Collin's M.K.'s opinion with approval. Lord Mansfield's sentence in the case of Jones v. Barkley (1781) 2 Doug. 684 at p. 694 : 99 E.R. 434 was then quoted: "The party must show he was ready ; but, if the other stops him on the ground of an intention not to perform his part, it is not necessary for the first to go further." Lord Sumner after remarking at page 70 Page of (1923) A.C.-[Ed.] that the decision in Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 is not quite easy to understand, and that his re-collection of it is not as clear as Scrutton, L.J 's (both appeared in the case) says at page 71. Page of (1923) A.C.-[Ed.] "Further more it does not anywhere appear that, even if the first cargo might rightly have been rejected, the seller could not have found another exactly conforming with the contract, which he might have duly tendered and so have put himself right." This sentence shows that, far from disagreeing with Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52, Lord Sumner applies its principle and does not go, in favour of the defendants even as far as Greer, J., in the Law Times case. The only reservation he makes is. "If the sellers had become wholly and finally disabled from performing essential terms of a contract altogether," at the time of breach, such a fact is open to the defendant in defending a suit for damages, though he did not state it at the time of the repudiation and this is all that he could have meant when earlier he said "If he had repudiated, giving no reason at all, I suppose all reasons and defences in the action, partial or complete, would be open to him." He then adds, "whit he says is of course very material upon the question whether he means to repudiate at all, and, if so, how far, and how much, and on the question in what respects he waives the perform ance of conditions still performable in futurs or dispenses the opposite party from performing his own obligations any further" (page 72) Page of (1923) A.C.-[Ed.].

    11. In my opinion Lord Sumner has not dissented from Braithwaite's case (1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 and the last case is good law. The present case is a clearer case. There is no evidence to show the nature of the goods in the 10 bales (offered by Ex. C. but not received by the defendants), and in the 30 bales (offered by Ex. D) I cannot assume in favour of the defendants that the yarn in these bales is of 24 counts only. The only reason for such an assumption is that no other yarn (orange dyed at Pedlad) exists--an assumption I refused to make at an earlier stage of the case in favour of the appellant. I must assume that Pedlad Factory can supply all counts of yarn (orange dyed) and it does not follow from the fact that the 10 bales accepted on 5th and 14th October are of 24 count that the other bales which have never been identified since could be only of 24 count and 30 bales offered by Ex. D would also turn out to be of 24 count. It follows that plaintiffs were always not only willing to perform the contract but if, at any time, the goods they delivered turned out not to be of the correct kind could have set it right. All conditions were waived by the defendants by their repudiation. In this case, there is no evidence to support any suggestion that the plaintiffs were totally unable and disabled to perform the contract altogether.

    12. It follows that plaintiffs are entitled to a decree for damages in respect of the 40 bales.

    13. On the terms of Ex. B the dates of breach were 23rd September 1918 (for the 10 bales) and 21st October 1918 (for the 30 bales) and it is not open to the plaintiffs to argue that the breach was at a later date. On the 23rd the price was Rs. 19 per bundle. We have nothing to do with the results of the re-sale in March. It follows that plaintiffs are entitled to a decree for 200 x 2 plus 600 x 5-14-0, i.e., Rs. 3,925 minus Rs. 1,000 (given as advance), i.e., Rs. 2,925 with the subsequent interest at 6 per cent, up to this date and 6 per cent, on the aggregate amount from this date to the date of payment, getting and paying proportionate costs throughout.

    Reilly, J.

    14. It is admitted that the contract with which we are concerned in this case was made on 20th August 1918 and was to the effect that plaintiffs should supply to defendants at Madura 50 bales of 20 count yarn from the Pedlad factory, each bale to contain 20 bundles and each bundle to weigh 10 lbs., and that defendants should take delivery of the bales on payment at the rate of Rs. 21 a bundle, that is Rs. 420 a bale. Defendants pleaded that one of the terms of the contract was that the 50 bales should be delivered within a month from the date of the contract. An issue was framed on that plea but was not pressed by defendants at the trial. The Subordinate Judge's finding in effect was that no time was fixed for (lie performance of the contract by plaintiffs. It was, therefore, plaintiffs' duty to supply the 50 bales within a reasonable time. There is undisputed evidence that by their notice Ex. O plaintiffs informed defendants on 23rd September 1918 that 20 bales were ready for delivery at Madura and by Ex. I) on 21st October 1918 that the remaining 30 bales were ready for delivery there. Defendants took delivery of 5 bales out of the first lot of 20 bales on 5th October 1918 and of 5 other bales out of the same lot of 20 on 14th October 1918. Defendants did not take delivery of the remaining 10 bales of the first lot of 20 bales or of the second lot of 30 bales; they did not even inspect these 40 unaccepted bales, nor did they sent to plaintiffs any written communication about them.

    15. There is evidence that out of the 10 bales of which defendants took delivery some of the yarn was not of the contract description. D.W. No. 2, a weaver, has given evidence that he bought 10 bundles of this yarn from defendants and found it to be 24 count yarn, not 20 count. D.W. No. 3 another weaver says that he bought 10 or 20 bundles of the yarn and found it to be 24 count yarn. There is also expert evidence that a bundle from one of the 10 bales accepted by defendants was found to contain yarn of 24 count or 26 count, according as the dye was taken into consideration or not, and that the bundle weighed only 8' lbs., instead of 10 lbs. D.W. No. 1, the manager of defendants' firm, says that he complained on 17th October 1918 to Rayulu, the senior partner of plaintiffs' firm (who died before the trial) that the yarn in the 10 bales accepted was not of the contract description and cancelled the order for the remaining 40 bales, to which cancellation Rayulu agreed. The Subordinate Judge says in his judgment that there is good ground for believing that D.W. No. 1 complained to Rayulu about the yarn but that he does not believe that the contract was cancelled by consent, as alleged by D.W. No. 1. It has been argued here for plaintiffs that D.W. No. l's evidence that he complained to Rayulu about the yarn should not be believed at all, as no question about this was put at the trial to plaintiffs' two gumasthas, P.Ws. Nos. 1 and 2, who are said by D.W. No. 1 to have been present at his conversation with Rayulu. Mr. Ananthakrishna Iyer for defendants has said nothing about this part of the case, and I think that D.W. No. 1's evidence that he complained about the yarn to Rayulu maybe disregarded.

    16. It appears that there was another suit between the parties in respect of the 10 bales accepted by defendants. In this suit plaintiffs claim damages for breach of contract in respect of the remaining 40bales. It is contended for defendants that no damages are due from them as the 40 bales were not of the contract description and in effect, therefore, it was plaintiffs who were guilty of breach of contract in respect of these bales. It is admitted that defendants never even inspected the 40 bales, and the evidence offered in support of this contention is that which I have mentioned to the effect that some of the yarn and one of the bundles in the 10 bales which they accepted were not of the contract description. I agree with my learned brother that from the evidence that a comparatively small part of the 10 bales accepted by defendants was not of the contract description, we cannot infer anything regarding the other 10 bales of the first lot of 20 or regarding the 30 bales of the second lot. It is true that in the course of arguments here and also before the Subordinate Judge a contention has been put forward for plaintiffs that the subject of the contract was, not bales of yarn literally of the contact description, but bales of yarn commercially known under that description but actually varying from it. The evidence to which plaintiffs' Vakil points to support this contention is clearly insufficient, and there is no mention of such a contention in the pleadings. I think this contention must be regarded as a false move in argument, for which plaintiffs cannot be penalised. On the evidence we do not know whether the 40 bales in question were of the contract description or not. All we know is that plaintiffs tendered them in performance of their part of the contract and that defendants failed to accept them and even to inspect them and merely ignored the tenders.

    17. But, even if we assume for the sake of argument that the 40 bales in question were not of the contract description, the defendants' position is not really improved. As no time had been fixed for the delivery of the bales by plaintiffs, if defendants, had inspected these 40 bales and had then found that they were not of the contract description, plaintiffs would have had time to supply other bales in place of those rejected, and on the evidence there is no reason to suppose that they would have found it impossible or even difficult to do so.

    18. It is clear that defendants by their conduct refused to accept the 40 bales tendered by plaintiffs without even troubling to inspect them or to ascertain whether they were or were not of the contract description. Defendants were, therefore, guilty of breach of contract, for which plaintiffs are entitled to damages. In the circumstances I do not think it is necessary for plaintiffs to call in aid the decision in Braihtwaite's case 1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52. But I may add that, in my opinion, the weight of the decision in Braithivaite's case 1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 as an exposition of law has not been affected, by either of the later cases mentioned before us. As I understand it, the principle of Braithivaite's case 1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52, is that if A contracts to buy good? of a certain description from B and refuses for other reasons to accept goods tendered by B as in performance 'of the contract, he cannot escape liability to pay damages by proving afterwards that the goods tendered were not of the contract description. It is true that Lord Sumner in British and Benningtons Ltd. v. N.W. Cachar Tea Co. (1923) A.C. 48 : 92 L.J.K.B. 62 : 128 L.T. 422 : 28 Com. Cas. 265 and Greer, J., in Taylor v. Oakes Roncoroni & Co. (1922) 127 L.T. 267 : 27 Com. Cas. 261 : 66 S.J. 556 : 38 T.L.R. 517 interpreted the decision in Braithivaite's case 1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 more narrowly but their remarks, though to be treated, of course with the greatest respect, were obiter dicta. On the other hand Lord Atkinson in British and Benningtons Ltd. v. N.W. Cachar Tea Co. (1923) A.C. 48 : 92 L.J.K.B. 62 : 128 L.T. 422 : 28 Com. Cas. 265 interpreted in Braithivaite's case 1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 in effect as I have stated it. But in the present case, as it has not been proved that the 40 bales' in question were not of the contract description, and as, even if they were not of that description, plaintiffs had still time to supply others in their stead, the exact interpretation of Braithivaite's case. 1905) 2 K.B. 543 : 74 L.J.K.B. 688 : 92 L.T. 637 : 21 T.L.R. 413 : 10 Com. Cas. 189 : 10 Asp. M.C. 52 does not appear to me of immediate importance to us.

    19. The damages to which plaintiffs are entitled are the difference between the contract price of the 40 bales and the market price on the dates of the, breach less Rs. 1,000, paid by defendants in advance for those bales. According to Ex. B, defendants were to take delivery on the day on which they received intimation of the arrival of the bales, and in the plaint the dates of the breach in respect of the two lots of bales have been given as 23rd September 1918 and 21st October 1918. Although plaintiffs allowed defendants some time for the removal of the bales and might reasonably do so and although defendants were very dilatory in taking delivery of those bales which they accepted, I do not think plaintiffs can now contend that the breach in each case should be assumed to have occurred at some later date and so increase the amount of damages due to them. I agree that the damages to which they are entitled are the difference between the contract price for 10 bales and the market price for 10 bales on 23rd September 1918 plus the difference between the contract price for 30 bales and the market price for 30 bales on 23rd October 1918 minus the Rs. 1,000, paid in advance. On-principle I should prefer not to allow interest on the amount so calculated before the date of the suit, but I do not wish to differ from my learned brother, on the comparatively minor point. I agree that the parties should pay and receive proportionate costs in both Courts.

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    N M Rayulu Iyer, Nagasami Iyer v. Thirukonda M Kuppu Iyer And Sons
    (Aug 19, 1924)