LIBEL ALLEGED.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20470, 13 February 1932, Page 19

LIBEL ALLEGED.

I ACTION BY WELLINGTON j j SOLICITOR. ] i I TRr.53 43SOCIATIOK TKI-XGRAU ) | \\'ELLINGTON, February 12. j An action for libel brought by John Joseph McGrath, a solicitor, of YTel- I lir.gton, against the Wellington Pub- : lisliing Comijany, Ltd., claiming £IOOO damages and costs arising out of a ivport of proceedings in a licensing case published in clie •'Dominion' newspaper, came before the Supreme Court to-day, the Chief Justice, Sir .Michael Myers, presiding. j Plaintiff claimed that by using the heading ••Improper Remark," on a. j rejiort of a Magistrate's Court case, defendant meant that plaintiff had, in the cour.-e of practising his profession, made an improper remark; alsu that by a subsidiary heading "Solicitor Rebuked" defendant means that plaintiff lind been rebuked by the Magistrate for making an improper remark; also that defendant by using the words "Tlie Magistrate, Mr E. Page, said Mr M.eGrath's remark was an improper one and he should withdraw it," meant that the Magistrate had demanded that plaintiff should withdraw a remark. Plaintiff claimed that the words Hero defamatory and that plaintiff had been injured :n hij professional good name and reputation and suffered damage in consequence The defence claimed that the headings wore justified by the words used liv the Magistrate, and by what took place at the proceedings; further that the report was a fair and accurate one of tlie proceedings in the Court and published without malico towards plaintiff, and publication therefore was privileged. Defendant, said lie still was ready and willing at plaintiff's request to publish a reasonable statement by way of explanation of the words complained of .