ALLEGED LIBEL

Evening Post, Issue 11, 13 July 1936, Page 10

ALLEGED LIBEL

SEAMAN'S CLAIM

SUIT AGAINST UNION

OFFICIALS

The adjourned hearing of an action for £600 for alleged libel, brought by Douglas.Gibson against Finton Patrick Walsh and Felix Newfield, was resumed in the Supreme- Court today. The case arose out of friction which had arisen between a member and officials of the Wellington Seamen's Union.

Mr. Justice Blair presided on the Bench. Mr. L. K. Wilson and Mr. Lan Macarthur appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. E. P. Hay for the defendants.

The statement of claim set forth that .in or about August, 1934, the defendants falsely and maliciously wrote and published certain : words concern-1 ing the plaintiff to all members of the unions affiliated to the Federated Seamen's Union; that in or about January, 1935, the defendants falsely and maliciously wrote and published other words concerning the plaintiff to the general secretary of the Australian Seamen's Union; and that in 017 about September, 1934, the defendants falsely and maliciously wrote and published other words concerning the plaintiff to the secretary of the Auckland Seamen's Union. The plaintiff claimed £600 damages.

The statement of defence denied the allegations of the plaintiff, and said that if it were proved that the defendants wrote and published the words complaind of the words were bona fide and without malice and privileged as coming from the defendants in their official capacities of general president and general secretary of the Federated Seamen's Union.

Mrl Wilson said that the plaintiffs case would be largely proved by documentary evidence, which he would put in. The plaintiff was a member of the Wellington Seamen's Union, of which Walsh was the president and Newfield the secretary. Walsh and Newfield were also respectively general president and general secretary of the Federated Seamen's Union. Counsel submitted that a persistent course of vilijflcation had been embarked upon

against tflie plaintiff. Counsel dealt in ; some detail with the Greymouth strike, and quoted from documents which were placed before the Court. Evidence was given by plaintiff in support of his statement of claim, and of counsel's opening statement. The hearing is proceeding.