SYDNEY LIBEL SUIT

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 3 September 1931, Page 5

SYDNEY LIBEL SUIT

CLAIM FOR £SOOO FAILS. CONSPIRACY TRIAL EVIDENCE. (Unite- rrcss Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) SYDNEY, Sept. 2. Claiming that the “Sydney Morning Herald’'’ had failed to publish evidence which contradicted unfavourable evidence given against him at his first trial tor conspiracy, of which he was acquitted at the second trial, John Gunn, solicitor, sought £SOOO damages from the “Herald” [proprietors for alleged libel. The Chief Justice, Sir Philip Street, summing uip, said the jury’s duty was to decide whether the report was substantially fail* and accurate. AVhat was meant toy fair and accurate was. not the mere setting out of every word of evidence, address or summing up; if the report taken as. a whole was substantially accurate, the mere fact that there were slight inaccuracies, or omissions was immaterial. Some latitude inust he allowed in respect to omissions or inaccuracies; otherwise there would be no safety in reporting these proceedings. The jury found a verdict for the “Herald.”