THE HUTCHISON-BALLANCE LIBEL ACTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 3093, 6 April 1892, Page 2

THE HUTCHISON-BALLANCE LIBEL ACTION.

(PEE PBESB ASSOCIATION.)

WANGANUI, April 5. The libel action brought by Mr. George Hutchison, M.H.R., against Hod. John Ballanoe and J. J. Boyle, manager of tbe Wanganui Herald, was commenced this morning. Tbe olaim is that plaintiff, at tbe time of the alleged libel, was member of the House of Representatives for Waitotara. In last session a bill was introduced by the Premier, by which tbe payment of members was proposed to be increased. Plainlift in Parliament and At a pnblio meeting at Patea spoke of the bill as a dishonest measure, and defendant afterwards addressed a meeting at Patea, and the report of tbe speech appeared in tbe Wanganui Herald of the Btn De« oember and the Yeoman of the 12th December, containing tbe following wordi concerning plaintiff :—" Mr. Hutchison had told them that the Payment of Members Bill was a dishonest measure, bnt he forgot to tell them that be bad signed a paper in the lobby of tbe House to the effect that be waß in favour of the Bill," meaning thereby that, although plaintiff professed to be opposed to Pay* ment of Members Bill as a dishonest measure, be acted so as to promote the passing of a bill with the object to increase tbe payment of members including himself. Defendant (Ballance) was a pro* prietor of said newspaper in which tbe words set forth Wbre published. Tbe said publications were false and malicious, Plaintiff prays for judgment for damages, 40s, and an injunction against each defendant to prevent any farther publication of said libel or any words to the same effect. ("Every word of this was known month* ago. When will some agents learn their business.— Ed.] Lateb. Mr. Hutchison conduots his own case, Sir R. Stout and Mr. Stafford appear for Mr. Ballance, Mr, Barniooat for Mr. Boyle. Tbe following ie the jury :— P. A. Erull (foreman), J. W. Anderson, John Duncan, Wm. D.Anderson, E.R. Morgan, J. F. Outfield, Wm. Alexander, A. Howen, H. G. Dymock, E. Broughton, A. Wilton, T. B. Williams. In bis opening addrest, Mr. Hutchison referred at length to tbe inoidente bearing on tbe ease, and explained tbe clauses of the Payment of Members Bill introduced into tbe House last session, stating that when tbe Bill came on for seoond reading be expressed himself opposed to tbe measure. A report from Hansard wm then read in wbioh he (Hutchison) stated he would vote against measure and oppose it in every way. His own ■fldrqw at

Patea shortly afterHbe 1 close of the Beamon was referred to. Extracts from the Chronicle were read, set out in plea by ttrV BalianMi and in wbioh Mr. Hutchison denounced • the bill as a diehoneßtrmeaaure., - ?he Premier's address on December'Ttb.at -Patea was referred to a - report:. of wbioh appeared in the Herald -^andiYeorflan.in.whicb.the published libel W (tohifelained of.*. Mr. Smith, M.H.E., bad, bifTa Riven by Mr, Ballance as the authority for the flta,tement, but he conign&ed that Mr. Balance must accept the responsibility although he had given the authority 6f*inothe.r pewon. )Vf&' have 'received a long message beyottd thede,' but top late for this issue. Plaintiff's case had closed, and Sir E- Stoot had ,pufc- forward a contention that there nras do 'case to answer, in that Mr. BaMapoo ma not ahovro to have been a a party ; to the -publication, and that piainVif 1 * proper; remedy would have been to snathe .company, not t£e direotors, wb'ojiswre, no* personally- liable. The ofliut afljontaed.l '