ALLEGED LIBEL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 105, 3 May 1912, Page 5

ALLEGED LIBEL.

STAGPOOLE v. PIRANI. | APPLICATION OTOR ' CHANGE OF VENUE. [EY, TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] PALMERSTON N., This Day. A number of affidavits have been filed in connection with -the case of Thomas Stagpoole against Frederick Pirani and Co. for alleged libel, published in the Feilding Star, in reply to defendant's application for a change of' venue from Palmei'ston- because "the eajd action cannot be fairly tried before a jury at Palmerston North." "Plaintiff, now at Wellington, in hie affidavits, swears that the action can be fairly tried, here. He points out respecting, the political objection that Palmerstbn is represented in Parliament by a gentleman of similar political views to those expressed by .defendant and the Feilding Star; that since defendant's defeat at the election hore he had been president of thevManawatu Rugby Union, elected by the-Pal-tnerston North Clnb, and 'repreeentativo on the New Zealand Rugby Union; that the Southern education district, which includes Palm«rston North, has continued to return George Henry Bennett, an avowedly strong supporter of Mr. Pirani, . as its representative. The president of the Chamber of Commerce, in an affidavit, says he is not aiva-ro of . any illwill or displeasure on the part of Palmerston residents against Mr. Pirani, either on account of his advocacy of the interests of Feilding against those of Palmerston or on account of his actions as president of the Feilding Chamber of Commerce, or in any • other .of hi» public positions. In his opinion jt was possible' to obtain as fair a hearing of the , action in Falmerston as in Wanganui. A number of -well-known citizens >havo ' sworn affidavits that, they are not aware there is any displeasure, or, illwill against Mr. Pirani, tJia£ he wae so publicly unpopular on account ioi bis actions either as chairman of the Education Board, president of the Feilding Chamber of Commerce, or as a journalist, as to render it impo&siblo to obtain a fair hearing of „ the case in Palmerston. Application will be mad© to join Thomas Mills, .editor and part proprietor of the Star, as an additional defendant.