ALLEGED LIBEL

Inangahua Times, 26 October 1932, Page 3

ALLEGED LIBEL

CLAIM OP £IOO BUTTER FACTORIES THE PARTIES (Per United Press Assn.) * CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. A claim of £IOO for alleged libel, ir which the parties were two dairy com panies, was heard at Akaroa today lr Mr La wry, S.M. Plaintiff was Taitapu Co-operativ* Dairy Company and defendant Aka roa Co-operative Butter Factory Co. Ltd. The basis of the action was a circular alleged to have been published by defendant Company, in which plaintiff Company referred to the operations oi Taitapu Company. The circular alleged, in effect, that a Company, unnamed, was paying 12d a pound for butterfat during August, which butter was being sofi retail in Christchurch for lOd a lb, which operation must result in a loss of ljd per pound. It was claimed by plaintiff Company that this circular hinted at some irregular practice by plaintiff by which this apparent loss was made up and that such a suggestion had injured the credit and reputation of the plaintiff Company. The defence was a complete denial that tile matter in the circular was libellous and a claim that it was privileged, in that it was sent only to sup. pliers and past suppliers of Akaroal factory. Decision was reserved.