AN UNREGISTERED NEWSPAPER

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1626, 29 April 1903, Page 21

AN UNREGISTERED NEWSPAPER

THE CASE OF THE “PETREL.’' At tho Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court on Friday before Dr McArthur, Robert Alexander Wright and W: Iter John Carman denied having wilfully published a newspaper without first registering the affidavit, as required by tho Printers’ and 'Newspapers’ Registration Act, at Wellington, on about March 23rd. Inspector Ellison prosecuted, and Mr Wright conducted tiro case for the defence. Constable Quarterman deposed that ne pu-chased the paper “Petrel,” produced, iiom Carman for a penny. Cross-examined by defendant Wright, Tv it ness said he asked to buy copies of all the numbers. Carman told him the paper was only published periodically, and he objected to sell a copy of number six issue, as there was a libel action pending. Leslie Leonard, clerk, deposed that fc.ur or five days after the election he bought a, copy of the sixth issue of the “Petrel” from Wriglit for one penny. On being cross-examined, witness said he was employed by Messrs Skerrett, Wylie and Weston, and mentioned that or e of his employers told him to buy a copy of the paper in question. Detective McGrath deposed that on April 7th the defendant Wright told him he was the printer and publisher of the paper, and said it was not registered because he did not consider it was a newspaper within the meaning of the Act D. G. A. Cooper, Registrar of tho Supreme Court-, deposed that the “Petrel" was not registered. If the defendants had applied to him he would have registered the paper* for them. Copies of number five and six issues cf the paper were produced in Court vo show that they were published within twenty-six days of one another. The defendant Wright contended that the “Petrel” was not published for sale. Publishing was one act and selling another. The action of selling a paper ever the counter was not publishing it for sale. He explained that he called at the Supreme Court office with a view to having the paper registered, and was tcld that it could not be registered as a newspaper unless it was published at intervals of less than twenty-six days. He did not intend to publish number six is«ue so soon, but there was so much matter over from the fifth issue that he and bis partner decided to get the sixth issue out. A fine of 20s, with 13s costs, was imposecU