MASBEY v. "N.Z. TIMES."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 19, 20 May 1912, Page 5

MASBEY v. "N.Z. TIMES."

DETAILS OF PRIVY COUNCIL

JUDGMENT

APPEAL DISMISSED

Loudon, May 19

Lord Atkinson, delivering judgment in the Massey-" New Zealand Times' appeal case, said that the question turned on whether the cartoons applied to Mr. Massey personally, and whether he was attacked in his private character. Dealing with the paragraph headed "A Poisonous Pamphlet, while the paragraph exculpated Mr. Massey and his colleagues from circulating it, he said that it inculpated the party, making allegations of dishonesty, fraud, and deceit. Plaintiff's accusation of Tammanyism was political warfare and fair comment. He regretted the absence of a full report of Sir John Findlay's speech when the paragraph was published, in order to clearly establish which lie he exhorted the Opposition to "hitch their waggon to." The Supremo Court's decision must stand.