LIBEL ACTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 7 May 1924, Page 5

LIBEL ACTION.

THE O'BW¥ES CAPE

»* OABLV—PBJSB ASSOCIATION— OOPYBIQHT 3JOSJDON, May 5. The hearing ef ifh© libel action in •which Sir Michael O'lhvyer, exlaeutenant Governor of the Punjab, is suing Sir Chettur iSaaikaran Nair in respect to allegations in the latter's book, "Gandhi and Anarchy," was continued in the King's Bench division. Counsel for tfibe defence raised the issue^ as to the of General Dyer's action.

Mr. Justice JtfcCardie asked: "If what Dyer did was necessary for the prevention of iQnairaby, can it be said to be wrong?" and added, "If hundred were killed ihalf a mii!?m were saved. The. -police !had completely lost control. You:seem;to.be ignoring the grave consequences that might have followed if LDyer's force had been destroyed. 1'

I/ater Mr. Justice McCardie interposed that he could not see a distinction in principle between a policeman's Mtidgeon andjafsdldief's rifle or an aviator's bomb iin suppressing a rebellion. The hearing vwas-adjourned.