£1000 DAMAGES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 59, 5 November 1914, Page 7

£IOOO DAMAGES.

VICTORIAN EX-PREMIER AND

THE ACE.

Mr W. A. Watt, present member for the Balaclava seat in the House of Representatives, and ex- Premier of Victoria, was awarded £IOOO damages against David Symo and Co., proprietors of the Age newspaper, in an action for libel which ho brought in consequence of the publication in tho Ago of July of a letter signed “Balaclava.”

His Honor said that Mr Watt complained that the letter had imputed to him an action of an unworthy and contemptible nature in relation to the presentation of a portrait of himself at a public meeting held in the Town Hall on July 15. He also alleged that the words in the letter signed “Balaclava,” “to refute a gross slander,” and in “This is a contemptible falsehood,” wore used and understood to be used ironically. Mr Watt referred to tho fact that although tho letter did not say he had subscribed three-quar-ters of the money for the presentation it really meant that he had done a contemptible thing. If the letter did carry that meaning it would not be difficult for them to find that the letter was libellous. The defence was an admission of publication, and of the fact that a public meeting, was held at which Mr Watt was presented with a portrait. It was claimed, however, that the words did not bear tho meaning placed on them, and were incapable of such moaning, or of any defamatory meaning. Defendants further said that the letter did not mean that Mr Watt had subscribed threequarters of the cost of the presentation. It was unnecessary in a case of this kind for plaintiff to prove monetary, loss. The most grave injuries to character might be effected by such a libel, and they could not be measured by money, yet money was the only way in which compensation could be given. After an hour’s retirement the jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff, and assessed damages at £IOOO.