BRINGS LIBEL CASE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 350, 11 October 1932, Page 5

BRINGS LIBEL CASE

(Press. Assn.-

ACTION FOR £20,000 AGAINST WELL KNOWN SYDNEY WEEKLY ALLEGATION OF COWARDIGE

— By Telegrapli— Copyright).

Rec. Oct. 10, 7.1Q p.m. Sydney, October 10, Mr. Nornian ("Wizard") Smith, the well-known racing driver, commenced an action against Smith' s Weekly elaiming £20,000 damages for alleged ! libel published in an article on May f 21 in which plaintiff contends that he was puhlicly denouneed as a cowardi . in connection with the motpr speed trials at Ninety-Mile Beach, New Zealand." | The defence demed libel and furth'er contended that the article was "true and for the public benefit." Mr. Holman, Smith's counsel, out- | lined the record breaking attempts I of the car "H. F. Stewart Enterprise" on January 21, and subsequently said ;

that the unfit state of the beach for the trial and finally a fire which broke out in the car, caused the attempt to be ahandoned. v/n January 26, the maximum of 225 miles per hour was attained, the average being 168 m.p.h. Giving evidence, Smith said that the beach eonditions were not good. There were bumps in the sand all the time he was there. During the 10 mile run, his shoulders were badly chafed. The danger of bump'S was that if the car was shot in the air the nose might come down first and cause a •somersault. The tyres were also cut hy shells, and sand and water on the ground rendered it impossible to see what ho was doing. The case is proceeding.