HEAVY DAMAGES AWARDED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 201, 3 December 1910, Page 5

HEAVY DAMAGES AWARDED

ALLEGED ABUSE OF POSITION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Londdn, December 1, Twelve thousand pounds' damages have been awarded against Sir John Benn for libelling the patentees of the stud system of tramways. Plaintiffs contended that Sir Jcihn Benn, for political motives, denounced their system, which the Moderates, who, at the time of installation, had been in power, had experimented with, thereby securing its abandonment. Justice Ridley, in summing up, said it was not denied that the system, as installed at Mile End, was a failure, but this was attributed to the method of installing. The jury must consider whether the words impugned referred to the system. He emphasised, regarding fair comment, that the person should get his facts right. The jury found that the words were defamatory and malicious. The words nvere statements of fact, not of opinjon. Stay of judgment was allowed on paymerit of £SOOO into Court with a view to an appeal. Sir John Benn has been a member of the London County Council since its formation in 1889. He was vice-chair-man in 1895-6, and chairman of General Purposes and Highways Committee.