GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1927, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

(Bv Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

At.P.'S SUIT FOR DAAfAGES

LONDON, July 12.

The Glasgow Labour member of the House of Commons. Air John AA heatley, has lost his six day action at 'Edinburgh, against Air John Alaurice Reid Afiller and Air Alexander B. Anderson. from each of whom he claimed three thousand pounds sterling. as damages, alleging that a letter which Afiller (his Conservative opponent) wrote to Anderson's newspaper. “The Eastern Argus,” contained a slander. The jury, by a nine to three majority. favoured the defendants on the first issue as to whether the letter had falsely represented Air Wheatley as a “dishonourable, crooked, mean character,” and 011 the second issue, as to whether Air Wheatley “had no regard for an oath,” the jury unanimously favoured the defendants.

The case arose out of Air AYheatley s offer to pay one thousand pounds to anybody proving the truth of a rumour which, he contended, had reduced his Parliamentary’ majority. Ah- Afiller asked Air AYheatley for ‘•:ui opportunity in the Courts of exposing the political pretences of a wealthy mail, who was pretending to support the abolition of capitalism. Bailie AY. Smith gave evidence. He alleged Air AYheatley, on one occasion in 1919, had failed to honour a loyal toast at a Glasgow Corporation Luncheon. and that he had also spoken derogatorily ot the Royal Family. Air Aliller. giving evidence, said that Air AYheatley, despite strong prohibition professions, held £I I.OOO worth of shares in a publishing company, and that his co-directors ot the company were men prominent in the liquor trade. He also contended that Air Wheatley’s speeches advocated revolution in its proper sense.

Lord Murray summed up in the slander case. He said that the case was a political dispute in which great heat had been displayed by both sides. Air AYhcatley’s challenge contained tbe terms “tradueers,” and “unscrupulous lying campaign of slander.” The Judge said Air Aliller could not be accused of a lack of courage in his reply, which Air A\ heatley refused to publish, considering that it contained a personal libel. Aliller had indulged in a “hard-hitting reply," which must be read in the light of the challenge.

PALESTIN E EARTH QU AK E. CAIRO, July 13. The latest Palestine reports indicate that the earthquake has been the worst there for twelve hundred years. The death roll is now one thousand. The majority of those killed were in Trans-Jordauia. There was no serious damage in Egypt. FR EN CII ELF CTO RAT ES. PARIS, July 13. The Chamber of Deputies, by 320 votes to 234 has adopted the Electoral Reform Bill. France thus returns to the single-member constituency system after experimenting in two general elections with a hybrid, complicated system of proportional representation. which had resulted in the election of a Chamber in which the Parties are so neatly adjusted that no Government could last.

The Bill Reform provides for a second ballot if the first vote gives nocandidate ail absolute majority. The number of Deputies is increased from 548 to 011.

EXCITING EXPERTENCE. LONDON, July 13. The New Zealand High Commissioner, Fir James Parr, and Lady Panhad an exciting experience late last night, wlien a lire broke out in a building in the Strand adjoining their flat in the New Zealand buildings. It was considered advisable to take Lady Parr to safety on the ground floor. The. outbreak was quickly checked.

GREEK AFFAIRS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) ATHENS, July 13. The discovery of a mysterious motor boat cruising outside Fort Izzeden, Crete, where the ex-Dictator Pangalos is interned, led to a public outcry against Government inaction. A conference of Parliament fixed the trial of Pangalos for August. PR OPO RTI ON A L VOT r NG. LONDON. July 13. Sir James Craig, speaking at Belfast. declared that proportional representation had proved a failure, and that they were substituting a simple system for next election. AIRMAN DROWNED. (Received this day at 8 a.in.) HONG IvONG, July 13. Flying Officer Phillips, of His Majesty’s llermcs. crashed while flying a seaplane outside Hong Kong harbour and was drowned.