ALLEGED LIBEL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 286, 6 November 1925, Page 8

ALLEGED LIBEL.

SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGES CLAIMED. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 5. An action for alleged libel, with damages assessed at £SOOO has been commenced in the Supreme Court before Mr Justice Herdman and a jury of twelve. John Ignatus l ( 'ox, organiser of the Now Zealand Dairy Farmers’ Union, is the plaintiff and William Goodfellow, managing director of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, is the defendant. The statement of claim alleges that on July 2, 1925, at Hamilton, defendant falsely and maliciously spoke and published to J. G. Wynyard, of To Awamutu, a farmers’ agent, of plaintiff, the following words: “If Fox had his rights he would have been shot twice as a spy.” On July 14, 1925, it was alleged that defendant maliciously published the following: “Fox was twice reported as a spy.” Further allegations were that defendant had stated: “William Ranstead reported Fox to the authorities as a probable spy. A very clumsy policeman was put on to shadow Fox, who suddenly became very careful and did not give himself away. William R. next met Fox at Gallipoli, where Fox was engaged as a cook at headquarters. This was a position where he could get a lot of useful information. Wm. R. reported him again with the result that he was snipped back to New Zealand.” _ The defence pleaded privilege." Mr Seymour, for the plaintiff, had hardly commenced his opening when Sir John Findlay asked for an adjournment as there was a chance of a settlement. This was agreed to, but no settlement was reached and the case was resumed.