Alleged Libel.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1921, Page 4

Alleged Libel.

CLAIM FOR £IOOO DAMAGES. [uv TKLUaiiAl'll —I'KU I*ll ESS ASSOCIATION] HAMILTON, Dec. 8. At the Supreme Court, Peter Mo:.', clerk to the AA’ailomo County C ouncil, sued John Edward Hamill, proprietor of the ‘’King Country Chronicle” lor £4(100 for alleged libel contained in the following words :—“But w hat, wit! as* lonisli the public* is the fact that the successful tenderer, I’. Mora, sat at the Council table in his capacity oi County Clerk and actually took part in the discussion. AA'li.v was he not asked to retire f Was i, not obvious I ; : Council that by allowing him to si: there lie was, unconsciously let. it said, exercising a moral iiiilueiice n: favor of liis own interests, li it was not, then Mr Wall should lie the in t to gil'c at ns :■ I Mill t our expel lent os. Tlu'ic arc other aspects ol the trnns-

aition to which we may have occasion to refer later.” Kurtlu i articles weie published which, after referring in the manner in which Mora’s tender was accepted, concluded: “AA’c liirlhcr contend that if the public had been toi l the full facts there would certainly have Hooii more tenders. And yet Mora ashed the public to belieri* :.mt in* wanted to create competition. r i !u ■ is mere balderdash and an insult to tin* public understanding. The AYainuro County Council meets to-day and ratepayers will lie intertsit’d to see whether Mora will he allowed In complete a cash sale oil Ids own terms and whether steps will ho taken to prevent a recurrence iif a transaction of this sort.” Briefly, the defendvnt admits publication, init claims in the main t"at the statements referred to do not hear the meaning which plain till' attributes to them, and, further, that as stntouionts of fact they ate true it. stance and as expressions of opinion fair and holiest. The comment. was made in good faith, in the interests ol tin* ratepayers and without malice. HAMILTON. Dec. H' The jury were out foi over three Ilnurs without coming to an agreement and the parties agreed to accept a majority verdict ot two thirds, ’litis was to the effect that tin* statements were ih'lainiUnry. and £3O wore awarded.