A BITTER DISPUTE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 July 1927, Page 11

A BITTER DISPUTE

POLITICIANS AT LAW SLANDER ALLEGED ACTION BY LABOUR M.P. By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright LONDON, Tuesday. The Labour member of Parliament for a Glasgow constituency, Mr. J. Wheatley, lost an action at Edinburgh, lasting six days, against John Manrice Reid Miller and Alexander B. Anderson, from each of whom he claimed £3,000 damages. The jury, by a majority of nine to three, favoured defendants on the first issue, which was whether a letter written by Miller Wheatley’s Conservative opponent) to Anderson’s paper, falsely represented Wheatley as a dishonourable, crooked and mean character. On the second issue, whether Wheatley had no regard for an oath, the jury unanimously favoured defendants. The case arose out of Wheatley’s offer to pay £I,OOO to anybody proving the truth of rumours, which, he contended, reduced his Parliamentary majority. Miller asked for an opportunity of exposing the political pretences of a wealthy man who was pretending to support the abolition of capitalism. Bailie W. Smith, giving evidence, alleged that Wheatley on one occasion in 1919 failed to honour the loyal toast at a luncheon held by the Glasgow Corporation. He had also spoken derogatorily of the Royal Family. Miller, giving evidence, said that Wheatley, in spite of strong prohibition professions, held shares worth £II,OOO in a publishing company. Lord Murray, summing up, said he was dealing with a political dispute in which great heat was displayed by botn sides. Wheatley’s challenge contained the terms “traducers,” “unscrupulous lying campaign,” and “slander.” Although hard-hitting was indulged in, the reply must be read in the light of the challenge.—A. and N.Z.

Mr. Wheatley has been Labour member for the Shettleston division of Glasgow since 1922. He was Minister of Health in the Labour Government.