Newspaper Subscribers.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 23, 31 July 1883, Page 3

Newspaper Subscribers.

♦ ■ Judging from a lecent case heard in the Small-debts Court, Mudgee, N.S.W.. a great many newspapers subscribers are ignorant of the law bearing on the subject. For their benefit we make tbe following extracts which we commend them to " read mark, and learn" :— " Any person who takes "S"~paper from a post office whether idtiected to his name or no, is responsible for the payment" "If a person orders his paper to be discontinued, he must pay all arrears, or tho publisher may continue to sendvit until payment is made and collect the whole amount whether the paper is taken from the office or not.' The Courts have decided that j refusing to take newspaper and periodiicals from the post office, or removing and leaving them uncalled for, is prima facie evidence of that intentional fraud" The Trade Protection Seciety sued sixteen of their subscribers lor arrears of subscription to their paper. The defendants admitted that they were subscribers, but reFused to pay the amount sued for, alleging by their Attorneys as a defence that the paper was sent to them after they had given notice to the proprietor to discontinue sending the same to them. The plaintiffs, by their attorney, Mr J. M'Carthey, contended that the defendants, were liable, as at the time the notice was sent the defendant- were in arrears in their-subscriptions, and that Ms client could, in face of .'that, notice, continue' sending the. paper until all arrears jEere. paid. ..In support-of'-thi. view he referred the Court to. several authorities on this matter. The, police magistrate, after hearing the attorneys on both sides, sustained the view of the plaintiffs' attorney, and gave a verdict for 'the 'amount claimed .in each case together with witnesses expenses.