LIEUT. GRIERSON.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1918, Page 6

LIEUT. GRIERSON.

WILL HE SUE DR. THACKER? "I cannot say what Mr. Grierson may do, but he has been communicated with," stated the Hon. Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence) to a New Zealand Times representative, asking him whether there was any truth in the persistent rumors that Dr. Thackcr, M.P., was to be sued for libel in connection with a statement made by him in the course of the Wellington North by-election reflecting on that officer. Dr. Thacker was reported to have said that Lieutenant Grierson had deserted, if not deserted to the enemy; and this assertion the Minister of Defence characterised as "an absolute untruth." "We know," he said, "that Lieut, Grierson is lying very ill at the depot at Torquay, after service at the front"; and in reply to a further question, Sir James Allen added: "I cannot make any statement as to the intentions of the Defence Department in regard to the matter." The Minister's attention was also galled to similar rumors as to pending libel actions in connection with certain statements in The Maoriland Worker, on the eve of the Wellington North polling day. "The Maoriland Worker," replied Sir James Allen, "said something about me. I am in communication with them about it, but have nothing to say at present."