CLAIM AGAINST CANDIDATE FAILS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 December 1936, Page 5

CLAIM AGAINST CANDIDATE FAILS

ECHO OF BY-ELECTION (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, 17th December In a civil claim heard in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, H. W. Bullivant and Co., Ltd., proceeded against M. E. Lyons, a Christchurch city councillor, in a claim for £'2s, a sum alleged to be owing for the printing of 2000 copies of the “New Zealand Bulletin;” which Mr Lyons intended to use as publicity in the Lyttelton by-telection in 1935. The magistrate, Mr F. F. Reid, non-suited plaintiff, and allowed costs to defendant. Plaintiff was the proprietor of the “New. Zealand Bulletin.” It was alleged that a representative of the paper approached Mr Lyons and asked leave to write him up, and afterward submitted to Mr Lyons, a proof of the article, which Mr Lyons approved. The laudatory article on Mr Lyons was published, but in the same issue apreared another article under the heading. “Georgie, foordon and C 0.,” which was an attack on the Government, which Mr Lyons as a candidate was supporting. For defendant, it was alleged that the condition of purchase of the 2000 copies was that nothing should appear in the issue which would be adverse or antagonistic to the Coalition Party. When the article attacking the Government appeared, it rendered the issue useless for defendant’s electioneering purposes.