LIBEL ACTION

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 105, 28 January 1931, Page 10

LIBEL ACTION

“Education in N.Z."

WRIT ISSUED

Mr. Butchers’s Book

As the result of a review of “Education in New Zealand,” Mr. A. G. Butchers's widely-discussed book, which appeared in the "Education Gazette,” the official organ of the Education Department, a writ has been issued by Meek, Kirk, Harding, Phillips and Free, solicitors, of Wellington, on behalf of Mr. Butchers, against Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education, alleging libel and claiming substantial damages. It is also understood that Mr. Bell, AssistantDirector of Education, is named in the writ.

Mr. Strong is apparently not being proceeded against in his individual capacity, but as the head of the department which issues the “Education Gazette.” It is alleged that Mr. Strong wrote the review which appeared in the “Education Gazette,” and to which, later, Mr. Butchers replied in “National Education,” the official journal of the New Zealand Educational Institute, and also in the “Gazette.” Extracts from the “Gazette” review to which Mr. Butchers is taking exception are as set out by him in “National Education” and in the “Gazette,” as follow :—

“The present work Is a monument to the industry and versatility of the author, who possesses marked talent for gathering information from all kinds of sources. Unfortunately, however, he has not always been able, or possibly has not taken the trouble to distinguish the true from the false. It

is always most dangerous for a historian to set down hearsay and ex parte statements as historical fact. . . . In more than one instance the author’s attention was, we understand, drawn to the inaccuracy of his statements; but apparently he did not take the trouble to correct them. "There are so many Inaccurate and misleading statements throughout the book that we trust educational authorities abroad will not fall into the error of supposing it to be in all respects reliable. Even the statistics compiled from departmental reports are not always accurate. . . . We have not had time to examine all the author’s statistics, but we have seen sufficient to justify us in hoping that authorities in other countries will not place entire reliance on this work.

"With regard to technical education, we are constrained to believe that the author docs not know what he is talking about. ... It is hopeless fto attempt here to rectify his blunders, since space does not permit, but it is greatly to be regretted that his limited knowledge of the New Zealand educational system should result in the recording of misleading statements. “Unfortunately such errors are not confined to the section on technical education. . . . We could multiply examples did space permit, of misleading, and inaccurate statements regard-

ing'the New Zealand education system.”

The case is expected to be set down for trial at the next hearing of the Supreme Court,