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Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1925, Page 2

'l'iik Magistrate having found fur t !u- ---|> I; 1 1 1 > I ill’ in tin- Roskill liliot case. il might have been expected a larger fine than £2 would have Imen imposed. I ihels by medium of namphlets are too prevalent in New Zealand polite v. We know, for instance. Imu Sir Joseph Ward has keen treated in the manner referred to. The Magistrate held tlie

ease to lie proved, hut in view of it being the lir-t of il- kind before the Court, the defendant escaped a severe line. Certainly it was a ease for a severe line when the olfencc was proven. Although il wax the first case ol its kind brought before the Court, there have been other instances where nllemcs were made, hut those maligned did not proceed further. No douM in tin- ruse the oll'eiider went on the a-.sumption that he. ; :u, would escape nroseeut ion from an indulgent phiintiff. lint he reckoned nil bout his host. Having proved (he ease, the plaintiff

ax entitled to the offender more heavily fined a- a deterrent to others with a i 111 ili 11 ■ li 'Hi I’ct haps the publicity given in i hi' i-axe. u ill have iis effect. The practice of indulging i: libels of the nature involved in the • ro-.ent ca-c liax been too frequent, and it would he well to see the offenders made a proper example of.