£l000 LIBEL ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1921, Page 5

£l000 LIBEL ACTION.

WATERSIDE WORKERS’ CASE. RECOVERS A PORTION Telegraph Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The claim for £lOOO for alleged libel brought by Henry Green against James Roberts, John Glover and Transport Workers’ Federation, was continued before Mr. Justice Adams and a jury at the Supreme Court to-day. The Judge said he would put to the jury five issues concerning each of the paragraphs on which thd complaints were based. These issues were: (1) Did defendants publish of and concerning plaintiff the word set out in the statement of claim?; (2) are the statements true in substance and in fact?; (3) were the statements defamatory?; (4) were the statements published maliciously?; (5) what damages, if-any, is plaintiff entitled to recover. After the retirement had exceeded three hours the jury returned with a five-sixths majority in favor of plaintiff. The first, third and fourth questions were answered in the affirmative and the second in negative. For the verses £2OO damages were awarded, and for the second paragraph £75, or £275 for the whole action. The Judge said his decision was £275 damages with costs, the motion for an injunction to be withdrawn and leave to be reserved to move for a new trial within 14 days.