Libel Actions Follow Goldberg Incident

Northern Advocate, 18 February 1939, Page 9

Libel Actions Follow Goldberg Incident

[Per Press Association. Copyright. l INVERCARGILL, This Day.

Mr F. P. Walsh, national president of the Federated Seamen’s Union of New Zealand, is taking action for libel against certain newspapers. Mr Walsh stated yesterday that the words he considered libellous appeared in a Press Association message from Christchurch about the boycott, at two hotels there, of Mr Frank Goldberg, of Sydney, governing director of the Goldberg Advertising Agency. Mr Walsh declined to say which words in the message he considered libellous.

“I was very surprised when I read in the ‘Southland Times’ of February 16 the report about myself and the incident of Mr Goldberg being asked to vacate the United Service Hotel by the licensee, Mr E. Boaiton,” said Mr Walsh yesterday. “I have already consulted my solicitor,, and he has informed me that the papers which published the statement libelled me, and I have directed, him to take action with the object of getting redress and clearing my name.” Referring to a leading article on the Goldberg case Which was printed in the “Southland Times” yesterday, Mr WalsnT said:' “I think it is quite unfair to write a leading article condemning representatives of the trades union movement on an ex parte statement which my solicitor states is definitely libellous, in so far as it is, unfounded and untrue.”