ALLEGED SLANDER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 118, 22 May 1925, Page 3

ALLEGED SLANDER

SUPREME COURT ACTION

ELECTRICIAN CLAIMS DAMAGES,

The hearing was continued in the Supreme Court throughout yesterday of the action claiming £200 for alleged slander, the parties being Rito A. Morton, electrician, against A. Beal Pritchett (N.Z.), Ltd., and Charles Walker Laird, salesman. Sir. Justice Ostler presided, and there was a jury of four. Mr. E. B. Kennedy represented plaintiff and Mr. 0. C. Mazengarb the defendants. The action concerned statements alleged to have been made by Laird to various people in Eastbourne as to Morton (who was an independent contractor), . having been "sacked" by Pritchett, being insolvent, etc. Cross-examined, the witness A. D. M'Donald said M'Cartney, the new contractor' introduced by Laird, had offered to consider employing -the men employed by Morton, but witness had refused to do anything, considering that whatever Morton had done he had been treated unfairly. Laird did not say to Morton in his hearing that the men had first mentioned their position to him (Laird) or no offer would have besn made to them before the matter had been mentioned to Morton. Morton said he was able to keep his work going as there was another firm prepared to back him. Laird told Moston he was going to tell other people concerned that Morton was out of business, and Morton thanked him for saying nothing earlier. The conversation was friendly when he was there, but an argument was commencing as he left, over things Laird had told other people. Re-examined, witness said, he and other workmen centainly doubted Morton's ability to pay wages after what Laird told them, and went to ask about it. Further evidence on similar lines was given by other men employed by Morton. Plaintiff was not called. For the defence, Mr. Mazengarb commented strongly on the non-calling of Morton. He moved for a non-suit on the grounds that the words complained of had no defamatory interpretation, "done" and "finished work" did not mean insolvent. His Honour said some of the words used would have to go to the jury, who might decide that they were defamatory: Non-suits were granted on two of the £40 claims on which no evidence was offered. Laird, in evidence, denied making use fo any defamatory statements. Ho had merely told.people that, so far as Pritchett's were concerned, Morton had finished with their jobs.' He had never implied that Morton was not independent, dishonest, or unfit to carry on his work. He had never said Morton was not square. The case was then adjourned until to-day.