SLANDER PROVED

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1932, Page 6

SLANDER PROVED

TEACHERS IN COURT ACTION

SEQUEL TO RIVALRY

WELLINGTON, December 12,

In an .adrion for slander beard by Mr T. B; 'McNeil, S.M., the plaintiff was P. O. Johnson, principal of Johnson’s Wireless School. and the. defendant J. 0. Taylor, principal of tbe Marine Wireless. College.

The plaintiff alleged that- tbe defendant had made statements to two prospective stud'entis of ’radio telegraphy regarding' the’ plaintiff’s qualifications as an instructor;’ and that those statements were false and defamatory. The statements complained about were that the plaintiff had no-qualification to teach wireless work; that be had no more than an amateur’s ticket; that he wars not an instructor in wireless in tbe Navy, and that the defendantwas the only instructor bolding a firi-d-cls certificate. *

Mr McNeil, in giving judgment, said that all the .statements were false. He did not doubt that the defendant, m tbe case of the two witnesses who nail given evidence, bad Said too much about the rival School. He accepted their evidence, and bp was paiticulaily struck wth the unprejudiced manner in which it was given. He bad no doubt that the statements were made and capable of defamatory meaning. In his opinion the plaintiff was a man of good mi?iU%qfiotis , f<n“. teaching wireless work, ited v fepersious had been cast upori iljjini in connection wit ' hisj business. Every man bad tbe right in such a ca.se to maintain bis reputation. and that right had been infringed. (Mii Wirenj counsel for tbe plaintiff, had said that the plaintff was ,W) t concerned to recover damages, but was seeking to vindicate his position as a teacher of wireless telegraphy. Under ..those circumstances he would award £5 damages and costs.