LIBEL ACTION

Evening Star, Issue 25344, 28 November 1944, Page 4

LIBEL ACTION

Y.M.C.A. V.'TRUTH'

EVIDENCE OF GAMBLING

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 28., The libel action, Y.M.C.A. v. ' Truth ' newspaper was continued before the Chief Justice, Sir Mi Myers, to-day. n Continuing his evidence, Trevor Harry Vine (a soldier resident) said he had seen gambling in the bedrooms and in the lounge, in the lounge practically every night as soon as it was cleared. There was general discontent among residents about the food and conditions. He 1 went to the Health Department in March, and noticed an improvement in the food for a few weeks.

Asked why he had gone back to the Y.M.C.A. after leaving, Vine said he had nowhere else to go, and could not afford to pay more. Paul Cleveland Savage, an airman, said he stayed at the Y.M.C.A. from February, 1943. to March, 1944. He lost 10s and a fountain (pen on the first day he was there. He had been one of a poker school of 10 to 12 which playecf in the bedrooms till the early hours, and on occasions right through the night. He did not know if the secretary knew if gambling was going on, but he saw no active steps taken to stop it. He was well aware of the* rule against gambling. He went to the Y.iM.C.A. because he could not obtain other accommodation.

Under cross-examination, witness admitted that last Christmas, Wills, the secretary, arranged for him, without any cost, to have 10 days' fishing holiday at Tanp'o. " That is the one thing they did for me."

(Earlier evidence on page 8)