ACTION BY SEAMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22476, 21 July 1936, Page 11

ACTION BY SEAMAN

ALLEGATION OF LIBEL CONCLUSION OF EVIDENCE fBV TELKGFtAI'TT PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday The hearing of the action for alleged libel brought by Douglas Gibson, a seaman, against I 1 intan Pa.trick Walsh and Felix New-field, president and secretary, respectively, of the Wellington Seamen's f nion and the New Zealand Federated Seamen's Union, was continued before Mr. Justice Blair in the Supreme Court to-day. Plaintiff claimed £6OO damages. Defendant Newfiehl, in evidence, was questioned bv Mr. Hay. who appeared for defendants. Mr. Hay: Gibson has charged you with going out of your way to suggest to seamen that tbev should peruse the books in the union office in Wellington, where tbev would find what sort of a man Gibson was. Witness: That statement was not true. Mr. Hay: What is your remembrance of the Waipahi incident? Witness: 'I here was some trouble among the men about going to sea with Gibson, and I told the men that Gibson was a financial member of the union and had as much right to go to sea with the steamer as they had. I also made a similar remark in regard to the case of the Orepuki. Mr. Hay: Gibson lias had frequent opportunities of getting jobs during the past six months? Witness: Yes, he could have got a job almost at any time. Mr. Hay: Have you any animosity toward Gibson? Witness: No, and he knows it. This concluded the hearing of evidence. Counsel addressed the Court this afternoon. On the question of damages, Mr. Hay pointed out that in the action for wrongful expulsion begun by Gibson last year at about the same time as the present case, £35 damages were awarded. The hearing was adjourned until Saturday.