A JOURNALIST'S REPUTATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 60, 1 September 1911, Page 5

A JOURNALIST'S REPUTATION

AND ANOTHER JOURNALIST. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, Last Night. The Chief Justice was occupied to-day with the action of Ernest Denis Hoben, editor and lessee of the Manawatu Daily Times, claiming £5Ol damages against' Wm. Henry Smith and the Rangitdkei: Advocate Publishing Company for libel. The statement of claim alleged that on July 4, llllli, deft'iid -nts printed and published of plaintiil in the Rangitikei Advocate the following words: "An amusing story is current which relates that an egotistical newspaper tyro (moaning thereby the plaintiff) interviewed Uie conductor of a. great musical combination and caused him to laugh oonsumedly over his statement that he could sympathise with his troubles, because he had unco conducted a tour ol' a football team. Though tl\is neophyte .(meaning theivby the p.-iiiK-lf) is always attacking his contemporaries, they seldom take any notice of his infantile wails, but the other day he excelled even himself. A great show was held, at which magnificent specimens of produce, etc., were exhibited, and the next day he seriously assured his readers that the one topic of the day was a football match. Evidently his mental calibre could be measured only with a micrometer."

It was alleged that the meaning of the said publication was that the plaintiff \\"i& an ignorant beginner as a journalist, with no experience in his business as a journalist, and was so deficient in mental capacity as to be unfit to conduct such a business or any other business. It was also alleged that, the plaintiff had suffered loss and damage to his reputation as a journalist by reason of such publication.

The defence pleaded that the Rang!-, tikei Advocate had no circulation outside the Rangitikei district; that, the article was not defamatory, and did not apply to plaintiff; also justification and. fair comment. I

Mr. Charles A. Louglman, with him Mr. It. I). Bagnell, appeared for pkuntilT, and Mcssts. Cliarlcs D. .Morrison, of Wellington, C. R. Cooke and C. B. Collins. erf Marion, for defendants. During the action Mr. Morrison, for defendants, abandoned the pleas of fair comment and justification, and said it was absurd to think that his clients could have meant to seriously reflect upon Iloben's experience and ability as a journalist, which was well known. He asked the jury to regard the matter as jocular. Mr. Txnighnan, however,, had witnesses to show that, the libel was part of a succession of attacks, through the courts and otherwise, by Smith or Iloiben, who had leased a paper belonging to Smith. The jury, after half an hour's retirement. returned a verdict for £275 damages for the plaintiff.