ALLEGED SLANDER

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 14

ALLEGED SLANDER

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES SETTLED. WELLINGTON, August 19. The cast of Arthur Leigh Hunt, late general manager of the New Zealand If armers' Co-operative Distribution Company. Limited, versus John Joseph Bryce, of Hinau, now chairman, of the company, a claim of £3OOO damages for alleged slander, has been settled. In April last Sir James Wilson, chairman of the company, and Messrs H. J. Richards. John Balsillie. and Thomas Moss, directors of the company, together with Mr Hunt, the general manager, vacated their respective positions, a fact which caused considerable surprise in business circles, particularly as all except Moss had been connected with the company since the inception 17 years ago. Last year the company handled 26,000 bales of wool, had a turnover of £1,048,000, and made a profit of £14,000. . When the case was called on in the Supreme Court to-day Sir John Findlay, for the company, announced that it had been settled. He had been instructed by the defendant to say that he withdrew an imputation made, either on the personal character or general business competency of Mr Hunt, and expressed his regret for having made statements which were regarded as injurious to -Mr Hunt's reputation and character. The defendant wished to say he never had it in his mind, to impute misconduct to Mr Hunt or to his inefficiency while acting as manager of the company; but, as he recognised the statements ■ made by him might lend themselves to that interpretation, he absolutely withdrew any imputation of the kind. The defendant would pay £6OO towards the costs and expenses. The case was accordingly withdrawn.