LIBEL ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1921, Page 4

LIBEL ACTION.

CASE AGAINST NEWSPAPER. COUNTY CLERK AS PLAINTIFF. By Telegraph—Press Association. Hamilton, Last Night. In. the Supreme Court, Peter Mora, clerk of the Waitomo County Council, sued John Edward Hamill, proprietor of the King Country Chronicle, for £4OOO for alleged libel, contained in the following words: “But what will astonish the public is the fact that the successful tenderer, P. Mora, sat at the council table in his capacity as county clerk, and actually took part in the discussion. Why was he not asked to retire? Was it not obvious to the council that by allowing him to sit there he was unconsciously, let it be said, exercising a moral influence in favor of his own interests. If it was not then Mr. Wall should be the last to gibe us about our experiences of other aspects of the transaction, to which we may have occasion to refer later.” A further article was published, which, after referring to the manner in which Mora’s tender was accepted, concluded: “We further contend that if the public had been told the full facts there would certainly have been more tenders, and yet Mora asked the public to believe that he wanted, to create competition. This is mere and an insult to the public’s understanding. The Waitomo County Council meets to-day, and the ratepayers will be interested to see whether Mora will be allowed to complete a cash sale on his own terms, and whether steps will be taken to prevent recrudescence of a transaction of this sort.” Briefly, defendant admits publication, but claims that in the main the statements referred to do not deal with the meaning which plaintiff attributes to them, and, further, that they are statements of fact, true in substance, and are expressions of opinion, and fair and honest comment made in good faith and in the interests of the ratepayers and without malice. The case is proceeding.