LIBEL ALLEGATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 99, 23 October 1936, Page 6

LIBEL ALLEGATION

ARAWA TRUST BOARD

LEAVE SOUGHT TO BRING

ACTION

(Uy Telegraph.—i'ress 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 today when, in the Magistrate's Court, Mr. E. Roe, on behalf of thc-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 the publication and printing of allegedly libellous matter.

The action was based upon a pamphlet1 whigh was distributed to some of the delegates attending the MaoriPakeha Federation conference arid purporting to be signed by Carnachan'as chairman of the Arawa central committee of the New 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 pamphlet had been submitted to the headquarters of the Labour Party in Wellington and approved before publication. The Magistrate, Mr. fe. L. Patcrson, after hearing legal submissions, said ho, would reserve his decision and would ■ indicate ■ after consideration whether leave would be given to bring the action.