LIBEL ALLEGED

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 24, 23 October 1936, Page 6

LIBEL ALLEGED

Leave to Bring Action Sought

By Telegiapb—Press Association

Rotorua, October 22.

A matter which caused considerable comment among delegates attending the recent inaugural conference of the Maori-Pakeha Federation at Rotorua, and which was the subject of a resolution of protest by the federation, was taken a step further to-day when in the Magistrate's Court, Mr. E. Roc, on behalf of the Arawa Trust Board, applied for leave to bring an action for defamatory libel against Robert Carnachan, butcher, Rotorua, and Harold Brown, printer, as persons responsible for tlie publication and printing of allegedly libellous matter. The action was based upon a pamphlet which was distributed to some of the delegates attending the MaoriPakeha Federation Conference and purporting to be signed by Carnachan as chairman of the Arawa central committee of the Now Zealand Labour Party. The pamphlet made certain allegations regarding the conduct of the Arawa Trust Board, and of its chairman, which Mr. Roe contended justified the board in bringing an action for defamatory libel. ‘

It was stated during the course of the hearing of the application that the contents of the ••’aniphlet ha<i been submitted to the headrpiart 'rs of the Labour Party in Wellington and approved before publication. The magistrate. Mr. S. L. Paterson, after hearing legal submissions, said he would reserve his decision and would indicate after consideration whether leave would be given to bring the action.