A Judge on Press Libels.

Manawatu Standard, Volume VIII, Issue 131, 13 November 1884, Page 2

A Judge on Press Libels.

Mi Justice; Inneai l & up tUe evidence m an actlori'foV^teages for alleged lip^-I^vis f. JMu?baidhe had no hesltftiibn id filing the jury tbajb tlie matters .which wer« spoken of, tflluded 'to; ahrf discassed ia. the two. paragi^pljs .before the Court were' of jiubficiiliterejlt, upon which not only the, proas had a right to comment, but every, member of the commupity had i a^ ) ea^a] (^h^ The/ all knew apdacl^pwJ^^feratefnlly the j^»3i%'^sß!^^ con * ducted, was aii enpriopjus^an^ an incalculable benefit . fKe wej£beiiig now when Dpbpdv m ha sens^eyer dreamed of controverting 'tn,a6 posi- otion. It was nob easy to estimate the advantages which deriveftrom a properly, conducted press, nor was it easy to estimate (he obligations of , gratitude under which the community laboiiTed to those . Vho'cpndi^t* the ;press. The* imatter a^ present^efore the Court was "oi^'of JP^^inferest, which would justijy. an/^r|ttl' w the public prei*s m discussing ffifrf and freely the afcts and <^4actTof the persons donceriieSd. fM ' T fepir-A8 tha niith^ was'.iidhered loMa^lruth; he nM not of necessity acc^icy m Syjittli : matter oNetail-^a^,^ writer cdnfinbd Wmf ti> Sj*> and alid I legitimarely I 'a^sini' ! 6ut 'ojfK —the writer or publiebef 'woulif nofc betubjectto an action for libel— no. uiattev bow severe the! anitoaivjiffsiott

or how unqualified the condemnation. raarth6 same time they must bear this m mind, that untruthful and unfounded statements must .not be made against individuals, and if they were made ; the writer was 'responsible. The question m thin instance was -whliher or not the - article was justified^ > whether thi» paro^aplis a f ajir, substantial, and truthful account; of the^cirenmstances of the case, or did they trausgres3 the bounds of fair and legitimate comment? If the paragraphs, did do so, the plaintiff was 1 f .entitled to damages ; but if they did not, the verdict would be for the defendants, f