THE SOAP TRUST

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 35

THE SOAP TRUST

EXTEND NEWSPAPER CRITICISM. LONDON, July 29. An action for libel brought .by Joseph Watson and Sons, soap manufacturers, against the “Daily News” and its allied newspapers, arising out of comments on th© soap trust, has been settled privately. Mr W atson -announces that the damages agreed upon exceed those recently paid to Lever Bros, by the “Daily Mail” and “Evening News.”. The other newspapers involved have now withdrawn their aspersions and apologised. The attempt to form a gigantic soap trust, with a capital variously stated at from twelve to sixteen million pounds, was one of the principal events of 1906 in the world of industry and production. The project was vigorously attacked by the •Daily Mail,” and it is generally conceded that the opposition thus aroused was responsible for the defeat of the scheme. Early this month Mr W. H. Lever. M.P., head of Lever Broß., instituted a prosecution against the “Daily Mail” and “Evening News” for libel in connection with the soap trust. Mr Lever declared that the newspaper attacks on the trust had cost him in a few weeks £40.000 on sales alone, while two millions’ worth of £lO preference shares of the firm had declined £1 each. The “Daily Mail” and “Mirror” withdrew the imputations against Mr Lever, and the actions were settled, fifty thousand pounds damages being paid, exclusive of taxed costs.