An Important Case.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 217, 16 March 1897, Page 2

An Important Case.

o A case was heard in the District Court at Hawera last week in which the plaintiff, a butcher, sued a settler for damages alleged to have been caused through loss of trade by the latter saying be believed a beast killed by the plaintiff was diseased. The plaintiff admitted a growth on the animal's neck having tbe appearance of a wart, but denied it was a disease. In non-euiting the plaintiff with costs His Honor said that be did not think that the evidence established at all that this beast was diseased, but at the same time it showed that defendant and other people had reason to think it was highly probable it was diseased, and they had a perfect right, honestly believing that, to discuss the matter amongst themselves. Whatever they so said among themselves was privileged unless it was shown that tbey acted dishonestly and maliciously. At aoyrate there was ground to justify strong suspicion amounting almost to belief. It seemed to him that in a case of this kind it would be a dangerous precedent to establish that a matter of common interest could not be honestly discussed. His Honor went on to say that whereyer disease waa suspected persons killing cattle should give notice and send parts to the Inspector. He also thought that tbere was necessity for slaughtering being done under the control of Inspectors— well paid men, too, tbey should be — who would ba independent and above suspicion, for it was of great importance tbat diseased meat should not be allowed to pass into human consumption.