VERDICT FOR FARTHING

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 December 1935, Page 10

VERDICT FOR FARTHING

LIBEL CLAIM FOR £lO,OOO. SYDNEY, November 28. A jury yesterday awarded damages of one farthing to the New South Wales Fresh Food and Ice Co., Ltd., in its action against Truth and Sportsman, Ltd., to recover £lO,OOO for a libel said to have been published in “Truth” newspaper on March 3, 1935, in an article on the milk industry written by Mr. J. C. Ross, M.L.A. for Koga rail. The jury, which was in retirement for two and a half hours, found for the plaintiff company on each of two allegations. The company had claimed that the meaning of the particular words to which exception was taken was that the company corruptly bribed and controlled .a member of the Milk Board and was dishonestly negotiating to hand over its business to the Dairy Farmers’ Co-operative Milk Company, Ltd., and would soon cease to exist or carry on its various businesses. After the verdict had been given, Mr. J. W. Shand, leading counsel for the defendant newspaper, said that £5 had been paid into court with a denial of liability, and he claimed that the defendant company was entitled to judgment, but his Honor said that the payment into court operated in respect of costs and he did not think he could enter judgment. An application could be made to him at another stage. Mr. Curtis, K.C., leading counsel for the plaintiff company, obtained a stay of proceedings with a view to considering an appeal. , ]