ELECTION SEQUEL

Northern Advocate, 14 September 1932, Page 3

ELECTION SEQUEL

ALLEGATION OF SLANDER. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. (Per Press Association. —Copyrlsrht.) NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. A claim was made in the Magistrate ’s Court by Alfred Corkill, exelmirman of the Inglewood County Council, who was defeated at the last election, against Robert Stuart, the present chairman, for £125 damages, the plaintiff alleging that slanderous statements had been made by the defendant in the course of his campaign in opposition to. plaintiff, both being candidates for the same riding, a few days before the election on May 11. The claim was for £IOO general damages and £25 for loss of the office ot. county chairman. The statement of claim sot out various statements alleged to be false and malicious. The first was that plaintiff hud taken county men off roads to do private work on his own private road, and that eight eases of county benzine were given men to got to and from liis farm. Counsel for the defendant indicated that the defence was, firstly, that the .statements were not made as set out; secondly, that any statements made were true and would be justified. Referring to some of those enumerated, ho said that they were fair comment, and not libellous, and that in any case the occasions, addresses to ratepayers, were clearly privileged. The hearing was adjourned uncompleted.