CHARGE OF CONTEMPT

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1942, Page 1

CHARGE OF CONTEMPT

arbitration court. WELLINGTON NEWSPAPER. 1 WELLINGTON, June 4. On the grounds that the publication of a certain article had constituted unjustifiable comment on proceedings which were pending before the Arbitration Court, the publisher of “The Dominion,” a Wellington newspaper, appeared before the Arbitration Court to-day to answer a charge of contempt of court. , , . The information was brought by Mr. Cornwell, the Secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Labour. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Decision was reserved. Mr. T. P. Cleary, for the informant said that the case arose out of the publication on March 4 of an article which stated:— “Applications to the Arbitration Court for increased w’ages are advanced on the ground that the cost of living has increased, and that wages must keep pace with that movement. It might be jurt as well to recognise frankly that it cannot be done.” It was suggested that the article had specific reference to a - case that was before the Count at the time. —...This-was-denied by the defence counsel, Mr. G. G. G. Watson. He said the article was written immediately after an address broadcast by the Leader of the Opposition and by way of comment on that. It was intended to appear the day before it did appear, but space prevented this. It was only a coincidence it appeared in the same issue as the report of the proceedings before the Arbitration Court. He assured the Court that there was a complete absence of any intention to embarrass the Court. ■. , . Judge Tyndall remarked that, at one stage, his mind was open as to whether it w|as not an obstruction, rather than contempt. Only once before in 4he last 42 years had a similar case been brought before the Court.