Concern At Course Of Damages Claim

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30066, 26 February 1963, Page 14

Concern At Course Of Damages Claim

(New Zealand Pre** Association)

NAPIER, February 25.

Concern at the course a £44,000 damages claim against the Primate of New Zealand, Archbishop Norman Alfred Lesser, and four others was taking, was voiced in the Supreme Court, Napier, this afternoon by Mr Justice McGregor.

The claim, called this afternoon for the first time, is being made by William Arthur Westley, former vicar of the Otane parochial district. who alleges conspiracy and defamatory statements by the defendants. Defendants were “in the dark” because the case was set down for trial before an amended statement of claim had been filed, his Honour said.

His Honour was hearing

four motions in connexion with the case. They were aU adjourned till Friday, when, it was stated, the new statement of claim would have been filed. Named as second defendants in the case are Charles Athol Williams, a farmer, of Pukehou; lan Campbell MacLean, a farm manager, of Pukehau; lan Campbell MacPhail, a farmer, of Otane; and Grenville Williams Warren, a retired fanner, of Havelock North.

At today’s hearing. Mr G. E. Bisson appeared for Westley, Mr G. C. Doole for the Primate, and Mr H. W. Dowling, for the second defendants.

There are 10 Individual claims in the present statement of claim, each against several defendants. The claims range from £15,000 to £lOO.

The motions heard today were for further information from plaintiff, moved by both Messrs Dowling and Doole, and one for part of the present statement of claim to be struck out (moved tor Mr Dowling) and one for the case to be heard by a judge and 12-man jury (moved by Mr Bisson).