LABOUR LEADER'S LIBEL ACTION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17319, 3 December 1921, Page 9

LABOUR LEADER'S LIBEL ACTION.

A PRIVY COUNCILLOR'S OATH. | ffiy Cnblo—Press Association— Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LOXDOX, December 1In tfh-e coirrse of the hearing of the action for libel brought by Mr "J. H. Thomas, M.P., general secretary of tho Xationnl Union of Rnihvaymcn, against tho ■•Communist," the plaintiff, crossexamined, handed Mr Justice Darling a. copy of the Privy Councillors' onth, remarking that he had frequently discussed industrial questions with tiho King, whom he always found impartial. Tho King never exacted anything from him. Mr Justice Darling interrupted: You) must not reveal what passed between tho Privy Council and his Majesty. You should stop forthwith. Replying to defendant's counsel, Mr Thomas stated that the "Communist" had said he was tolling the Ministers all that was happening, and was betraying his side. This was a libellous accusation. Counsel: You* Bay you did not tell the Ministers all that was happening in the agitation; yet you took an oath tih.at pledged you to do so. Mr Thomas: I discharged my obligations and oath as a Privy Councillor. It was an industrial dispute. I interpreted it as such, and took steps to prevent it becoming other tlian that. In turther cross-examination, plaintiff sajd many miliars were now accepting less wages than in 1914 because they would not take his, and Mr F. Hodges's advice. He declared that (ho believed Russian money was now subsidising the Communist movement. Defendant's counsel: The rouble has depreciated extremely. Mr Thomas: But jewels are enhanced in value.

Mr Hodges, secretary of the British Miners' Federation, gave evidence that, so far as he knew, Mr Thomas never gave away the miners' secrets and plans to the other eide. There had been nothing to complain about in his conduct of the negotiations.