ALLEGED LIBEL.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 291, 14 June 1907, Page 3

ALLEGED LIBEL.

A LAWYER'S ADVANCES. fPBB P&B88 ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, June 13. At the Supreme Court this after noon, before Mr Justice Deniiistoi and a jury of twelve, the hearinj began of the action Christaphei James Parr (solicitor) versus Rober Frederick Way. claim £550 damagei for alleged libel. Mr Thomas Cottej appeared for plaintiff. Defendam conducted his own case. The ground of the alleged libel wa< the publication of an articl ein th< New Zealand Worker, of which de fendant is editor, alleging that plain tiff was. interested pecuniarily in t disorderly house by lending monej to the proprietress at a high rate oi interest, and that he used his position as a membe rof the Auckland City Council to facilitate granting 8 lodging-house license to the person conducting this disorderly house. Mi Parr was a candidate at the last general election for City East. Parr, in his evidence, said th< license referred to was granted by th( I mance Committee of the City Council two years ago. He was present but took no part in the discussion! The only report the committee had was one from Constable Donovan stating that he inspected the house two years ago. Witness advertised that he had monye to lend for a client, and the woman in question had applied for a loan of £500, and, the security being good, the advance was made by his client. On another occasion a Mr Subritzky applied foi a loan of £180, and he declined to give it because he could not inspect the security. The woman than saw him, and offered to guarantee the advance if made. Witnes sthen made the advance on benalf of his wife (Mrs Parr) at 6 per cent. Prior ta th granting of the license he had never had reason to suspect the woman. She owned a considerable amount of property in Auckland. The hearing was at this stage adjourned till to-morrow.