MANAGER'S LIBEL CLAIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 293, 8 December 1920, Page 4

MANAGER'S LIBEL CLAIM.

(By Telegrasn-.—Press Association.! WELLINGTON, this day. A libel action was commenced before Sir. Justice Stringer and a jury to-day by Arthur Leigh Hunt, of Wellington, lately manager of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Distributing Co., against H. Beresford Maunsell, sheep farmer, of Tenui, Wairarapa, the claim being for £1500 damages for alleged false and malicious statements by defendant against plaintiff in his office as general manager of the company and in connection with the election of directors in if) 19. The statement of claim set out that defendant, a candidate with Mr Moss for election to the directorate, convened a meeting of shareholders in Mf-.sterton on January 7, 1020. At this he spoke and published the following words about plaintiff: "Mr. Leigh Hunt asked mc to leave tho sending of the joint circular by myself and Mr. Moss in Mr. Hunt's hands,-and I found that the circulars had not been sent out until a few days before the election, and after Sir James' circular had gathered up all the proxies." It was submitted that by this that defendant had behaved with grave impropriety.