DECISION REVERSED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 41, 16 August 1941, Page 6

DECISION REVERSED

ALLEGED LIBEL

A MAJORITY VERDICT

By a majority of three to two, the Court of Appeal has reversed the verdict given in the Supreme Court at Auckland in favour of Glen dinning Walter Maurice Riddell, salesman, o? Te Aroha, against the Simons Pro prietary, Ltd., brewers and wine and | spirit merchants, of Paeroa, and William H. Simons, company manager. A j claim by Riddell for £600 damages tor alleged libel was heard in Auckland by Mr. Justire Johnston and a jury of twelve, and the jury awarded £450. The company moved for.a new trial,, which Mr. Justice Johnston refused, and it was from that decision that the appeal was made, on the grounds of the inadmissibility of certain evidence, misdirection of the jury, and excessive damages., . , Mr. A. H. Johnstone, X.C.. with- him Mr. H. O. Cooney, appeared for the appellants, and Mr. T. E. Henry for Riddell. The Cliief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) and Mr. Justice Callan found in favour of the appellants for a new trial, but Mr. Justice Blair, Mr. Justice Kennedy and Mr- Justice Northcrofi found that the appellants were entitled to judgment on the original action. Judgment was entered accordingly. A British sailor. Sidney Hales of Doncaster. serving in the Mediterranean, stepped ashore at Haifa, walked into a cafe, and there found his brother —a soldier—whom he had not seen for years.