DAMAGES FOR LIBEL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 5

DAMAGES FOR LIBEL.

EX-AGENT-GENERAL SUES. (ni TKLEOBiru—γ-ress association—corrnionr.) London, March 11. Mr. Justico Grantham, sitting in the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, heard a libel action brought by Mr. J. 0. Jenkins (late South Australian AgentGeneral, who last year resigned that post owing to a dift'erenco with his Government as to loan flotation measures) against the newspaper "Australian Trading World," for circulating in January, 1908, a groundless rumour that ho was to be replaced, and alleging that his agent-generalship had not been successful, and that he had caused dissatisfaction in South Australia owing to his lacking energy and enthusiasm. Tho Hon. E. A. Harvey, lato of Western Australia, and now practising at the English Bar, was Mr. Jenkins's counsel. Ho attributed the libel to Mr. Jenkins's refusal to give the defendant paper advertissiuents. The editor of tho "Australian Trading World" admitted having written to Mr. Jenkins several requests for advertisements, and having hinted that ho naturally supported those who supported tho paper. • Mr. Justico Grantham summed up strongly against the paper. Mr. Jenkins did not ask for heavy flamages, and £25 was awarded, with costs amounting to £500.