ALLEGED LIBEL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 115, 12 November 1930, Page 12

ALLEGED LIBEL

DOCTOR AND NEWSPAPER

CLAIM FOR £2000

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WANGANUI, This Day. In the Supreme Court Dr. Kronfeldt, Medical Superintendent of the- Taihape Hospital, claimed from John Edward Hamill, propi'ietor of the Taihape "Times" £2000 for alleged libel, arising out of an article published on 18th July, wherein it was alleged that byplaintiff's appointment as medical officer the services at tho hospital, both medical and surgical, were inefficient, and that the lives of the patients in need of urgent treatment were in jeopardy, and that plaintiff was notcompetent to carry out his duties. Previously the Taihapo Hospital had the services of three doctors, but a dispute arising with the Hospital Board, it was decided to place Dr. Kronfeldt, of Wanganui, in charge. In the article it was stated that when major operations had to bo performed the matter had to be arranged between the Medical Superintendent at Wanganui and the plaintiff, and when a major operation was necessary plaintiff had to communicate with Wanganui, and a surgeon had to be sent from there, or, alternatively, one employee", locally. It was contended that tho article inferred that plaintiff was not fit to perform operations, and this was detrimental as well to his private practice. As a matter of fact plaintiff did perform the operations. After hearing the evidence of the plaintiff to the effect that the article tended to belittle him, Mr. Treadwell, for the defence, moved that tho case be withdrawn from the jury, as libel had not been established and no defamatory meaning could be taken from the article. Mr. Justice Ostler reserved his decision until after the adjournment.