ALLEGED SLANDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1920, Page 5

ALLEGED SLANDER.

DEFENDANT EXPRESSES RIGRET. PROMINENT MEN CONCERNED; «' B f I'ress Asia —Copyright.— ? ' Wellington, Last Nigbti The case of Aithur, Leigh, Hunt, late general manager of the New Zealand Farmers' Distributing Company. Ltd.,'v. •Mm Joseph |?ryce, of Hinan, now chairman of the company, a claim for £3OOO damages, has been settled, In April last Sir .lames Wilson, chairman of the company, itnd Messrs H, J. - Richards, John Balsillie, and Thomas Mtiss, directors of the company, together with Mr. Leigh Iliyit, the general manager, vacated their rospectivo positioned a fact which caused considerable turprise in business circles, • particularly as all except Mr. Moss fiad been connected with <• the company since its inception 17 years ago. Last year the company handled 20,000 bales of Wool, had a turnover ot £1,04H,000, and made a profit of ; £14,000." ' When the case was called at-the .Supreme Court to-day, Sir John Kindluv - (for the company J announced thn! ihi>. case had been settled, and he had hee-i » instructed by the defendant to snv Hint ' he withdrew any imputation made v'ttier | of the personal character or the uerc'iil , business competency of Hunt, and e\• , pressed his regret for having made statements which were ieyardv* in- ■*, jurious to Hunt's reputation anil .liar- " acter. Defendant' wfelied to si, v > v . ih-m-: had it in his mind to impute niKMis'- ; duct to Hunt, or inefficiency while acriii."' i as manager of the company, luit lie ! recognised'the statements nuiile i.v i 1,1 may lend themselves to that hi • < tion, he absolutely withdrew lt r- o putation of the kind. Defend:'-., >, .-M .1 pay £6OO towards the casts ■> pensea. Tlie case was accordiiulv drawi).