LIBEL ACTION FAILS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2472, 26 August 1922, Page 2

LIBEL ACTION FAILS.

NAPIER “HERALD” SUED. Napier, August 24. Before His Honour Sir Robert .Stout, at the Supreme Court on Thursday, Helmore Henry Brown./ assistant secretary and organises of the Post and Telegraph Association, sought, to’- recover £5Ol damages from the Napier “Herald” for alleged libel. The “Herald” published a report of a meeting at a tea rooms of lady members, which Mr Brown addressed and which terminated abruptly by ihe proprietress stopping the speaker, alleging that what was being said was disloyal. Plaintiff gave evidence tl.ut he was bringing under the notice of lady members the anomalous position of members of the P. and T. t service when the’ proprietress came in and said he v. uld have to discontinue the meeting as "“I was most disloyal.” The meeting terminated, those present going to another halbLabour and Socialism were til! discussed at great length. Plaintiff denied that the .Alliance of Labour was a political body. His Honour said the Alliance was a political organisation. It dealt with the Government of the country and he could-not see what jeet was, except to get greater poli-tic-ai power. Witness stated that in tlie Alliance there might be a general strike, but the support might be financial or moral. His Honour: Not a word is said about industrial arbitration and conciliation. You are going behind the law, and if that is not disloyalty, 1 don’t- know what dsiloyalty is.” Witness denied using the words: “Join up with the Alliance of Labour and make it so strong that the Government will have to give us what we want.” He never east a slur on His Majesty, nor was reference to violence or the use of any but constitutional methods made at the meeting. Tre jury found for defendants.