LIBEL ACTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18583, 9 December 1920, Page 7

LIBEL ACTION.

—— —r CLAIM FOP. DAMAGES. [P*r Pans* AssoouifioN.] WELLINGTON, December 8. A libel action waß commenced before Mr Justice Stringer and a jury today* by Arthur Loigh Hunt, of Wellington, formerly'general manager of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Distributing Company* against H. Beresford Maunsdll, sheep/ fanner, of Tenui, Woirarapa, the claim being for £ISOO damages, A for alleged false and malicious statements by defendant against plaintiff In his office as general manager of the company, and in connection with th® eleotion. of directors in 1919. . , . . .. . The statement of claim set out that the defendant, who was a candidate with Mr Moss for election to the directorate, convened a meeting of shareholders in Masterton on January 7. 1920. At this he spoke atid published the following words about plaintiff “ Mr Leigh Hunt asked me to leave the sending of the joint circulars by myself and Mr Moss in Mr Hunt’/i hands, and I found that the oiroulars had not been sent otit Until a few days before the election, and after Sir James’S circular had gathered up all the proxies.” It was Submitted that by this defendant had behaved with grave impropriety. After evidence bad been heal'd Counsel for the defence asked for a non-suit on the ground that there waa no evidence of malice. His Honor said that effegedly defamatory statements had been made on occasions admittedly privileged; In that Case the onus lay upon plaintiff to prove that privilege was abused and that there WOs expressed' malice. The question was .whether, or not there was evidence to justify the jury, were the matter left in Itfinands, to find malice. There must be substantial evidence,” he aaded. " I must confess I cafinot see say such evidence.” Hi* Honour accordingly dismissed lost*. and entered a non-shit with