The Waikato Argus. GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1899.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 450, 20 June 1899, Page 2

The Waikato Argus. GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1899.

In other columns of this morning's issue we publish a full report of the hearing of the action for libel brought by Mr Spragg, of the New Zealand Dairy Association, against the proprietor of this journal. It will be seen that the jury has re* turned a verdict for the defendant. It is not our habit to obtrude our private affairs on the public. This action, however, forms one of a chain of incidents in connection with the dairy industry, with which the prosperity of this district is closely interwoven. The action against us is in consequence a matter of public interest. We recognise that Mr Spragg has displayed much enterprise and skill in the conduct of the dairy business, and the great progress it has made in his hands. Towards that gentleman personally we have never expressed any but the most friendly sentiments, as a perusal of our columns will show. We bacr, however, a duty to perform, and that was to permit free discussion of a very important question. In acting upon the principle we have laid down, we inserted the letter upon which the action was based, as we dill all communications received from Mr Spragg. When we were first threatened with and then actually served with a writ we preferred to incur the risk and inevitable cost of a Supreme Court action rather than do anything which might prejudice or weaken the cause of the milk suppliers. We have met the allega-

tion of libel fairly and without attempt to compromise or evade the issue, and the verdict of the jury is our vindication, Judging from the congratulations which have reached us from all parts of the district, we can fairly assume that the public of Waikato appreciate our services, and for that we thank them most heartily.