CIVIL SERVANT'S DEFAHATION ACTION
WITHDRAWAL BY CONSENT PLAINTIFF'S HONOUR VINDICATED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 17. A claim for £I,OOO damages brought by George Laing, "general inspector of Government motor vehicles, against Ernest Harold Langford, Ministerial secretary, for alleged defamation of character and injury to his credit as a Civil servant and member of the Labour Party, at the conference of the New Zealand Labour Party in November of last year, was withdrawn by leave of the Supreme Court. Mr T. P. Cleary told the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, that his client, Langford, had fully accepted Laing's. repudiation of the truth of Langford's statement, that Laing had gone to a weekly newspaper with information, about the sale of used army motor vehicles because he was disgruntled, and Langford also "unreservedly withdrew the statement made by him and expressed regret that \it should ] have occasioned Laing worry and anxiety. Mr Cleary said the proceedings were based on a statement made by the defendant to the effect that the plaintiff had furnished to the newspaper information as to alleged irregularities in the sale of used army vehicles in Christchurch. The plaintiff repudiated any such suggestion, whether or not pririlege had attached to the circumstances under which the "statement had been made!.. , .'., • . ;/
Dr O C. Mazengarb, appearing for Laing, said that the statement complained of was* a serious.one, involving as it did the imputation that the plaintiff had broken his obligation of secrecy as a trusted Civil •servant. " A. similar attack had been made under the cover of privilege in the House," continued Dr. Mazengarb. "The speaker was invited to repeat it outside the House so that proceedings could be brought, but did not do so. When the defendant made his allegation at the Labour Party conference and failed to withdraw them after two letters had been sent to him requesting him to do so, the plaintiff was reluctantly obliged to commence these proceedings to vindicate his character " As the C 'endant had now agreed to withdraw • "id, as the plaintiff had' now been fu r " restored to his duties as general inspector of Government vehicles, his character had been vindicated and no good purpose could be served by proceeding with the trial. An arrangement as to costs satisfactory to both parties had been made, and the action might now be struck out. His Honour agreed to counsel s application.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19450818.2.114
Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 25565, 18 August 1945, Page 8
Word Count
396CIVIL SERVANT'S DEFAHATION ACTION Evening Star, Issue 25565, 18 August 1945, Page 8
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