CRITICISM OF PUBLIC OFFICERS.
A PRIVILEGED OCCASION.
(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)
DUNEDIX, Monday
At the Supreme Court to-day the case of Brown v. Wilson, claim £1000 damages for defamation of character, came before Mr Justice Williams. The ■ plaintiff, who is engineer for the Manitoto County Council, in his claim, said that the defendant, who is a farmer living near Kokonga, when addressing a meeting of county electors, as a candidate, stated that "the engineer might or may be draughtsman, but he was no engineer." For the defence the use of the words was denied, or if used that they were spoken bona iides, without malice, and upon a privileged occasion. His Honor' was clearly of opinion that the occasion was privileged, the defendant being invited to attend the meeting. Every ratepayer was entitled to express his views upon county matters generally, provided he did so honestly and without malice. The evidence was clear that Brown was a qualified and competent engineer, but that did not affect, the case. The defendant said what he thought. As the occasion was shown to have been privileged, and plaintiff, having failed to prove malice, judgment would be for defendant with costs.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 73, 27 March 1900, Page 3
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196CRITICISM OF PUBLIC OFFICERS. Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 73, 27 March 1900, Page 3
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