AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22866, 28 April 1936, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

AN ACTION FOR LIBEL COMMENT IN SPORTING PAPER SYDNEY, April 27. (Received April 28, at 0.15 a.m.) Comment in a sporting paper regarding the form and prospects of the Limond filly Retrieved prior to the Gimcrack Stakes last year formed the basis of an action for libel brought by Ezra Norton, managing director of Truth and Sportsman, Ltd., the owner of Retrieved, against the owners of 2UE Form Guide and the printers of it. Norton, who claimed £SOOO damages, complained of the statement, " The Limond filly is owned by Ezra Norton, and if a fair price is obtainable she should ' go off.'" Norton contended that this inferred that in the event of the price being shortened lie would take steps to " pull" the filly, which was tantamount to saying he was a cheat and unworthy to be a member of the Australian Jockey Club. The defendants pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations. The action was heard to-day in the Supreme Court, and the jury awarded the plaintiff one farthing damages. A stay o£ proceedings for 21 days was granted. WAGES OF FEMALE WORKERS SYDNEY, April 27. (Received April 2<S, at 0.15 a.m.) Following strong protests against the reduction in women's wages by the Industrial Commission, the Retail Traders' Association has recommended its members and the trade generally to make no change in the existing wages of female workers. A TASMANIAN EXPERIMENT HOBART, April 27. (Received April 28, at 1 a.m.) The Labour Government intends to legislate for closing shops on Saturday experimentally for 12 months. The trades affected will be drapery, hardware and shoe retailers in Hobart and suburbs.