HUTT BY-ELECTION CASE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 70, 6 March 1930, Page 8

HUTT BY-ELECTION CASE

SETTLED OUT OF COURT,

Wellington, March 0. An echo of the Hutt by-election was heard in the Lower Hutt Magistrate's Court this morning, when, alter two adjournments the case of Walter Nash versus Walter A. Smith was settled.

The charge against the defendant, who is the publisher of the Hutt “News,” was tuat between the issue of tho writ in the Hutt by-election and tho close of the poll he published an untrue statement defamatory to Walter Nash and calculated to influence tho votes of the electors.

“Since the proceedings were issued,’’ said Mr W. P. Boilings for tho plaintiff, 1 ' defendant has expressed to Mr Nash his regret at having published a statement which misrepresents Mr Nash’s political views to such an extent as du the words complained of, and although my client feels keenly that to accuse him of a desire “to establish a Soviet-like form of Government’’ in New Zealand is untrue and unfair, he has no wish to be vindictive and is prepared to accept the defendant's apology. I therefore ask leave to withdraw the information. The question cf costs has been arrang ed between the parties.’’ To this Mr C. B. Barrett, who appeared for the defendant, assented. His client had no wish to identify Mi Nash with the present aims and objects of the Soviet in any way.” “That’s much the better way of settling a case like this,” said the Magistrate, Mr W. H. Woodward.