LIBEL ACTION

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24271, 31 May 1944, Page 4

LIBEL ACTION

* EVIDENCE FOR PLAINTIFF (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 30. The hearing of a claim for £IOOO for alleged libel, brought by Marathon Rubber Footwear, Ltd., of Christchurch, against Geddis and Blomfleld, proprietors of the New Zealand “Observer,” was continued before Mr Justice Callan and a jury to-day. Continuing his evidence under crossexamination, George W. Skellerup, managing director of the plaintiff firm, said that to complete his intended output of 200,000 pairs of gumboots a year would take 200 tons of virgin rubber. About 60,000 to 70,000 tons a month was the output of synthetic rubber in America and Canada together. The latest information was that the productive power of the United States would approach 1,000,000 tons a year next July. In addition, they made about 250,000 tons of reclaimed rubber. Witness agreed that, his company had not made any less profit since the “Observer” article appeared. The normal yearly requirements of New Zealand in gumboots before the war were placed at from 200,000 to 250.000 pairs of all types by David Douglas Wilson, attached to the Ministry of Supply in Wellington. For this year, allocations of rubber for 100.000 pairs had been made, and New Zealand had to get on as best it could with that. There had been no Government subsidy whatever for Marathon rubber. The case was adjourned. $