WAS IT LIBEL?

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 76, 6 May 1914, Page 8

WAS IT LIBEL?

DR THACKER ANGRY.

AN OBJECTIONABLE ADVERTISEMENT. HAEBOUE BOAED .APATHETIC. The Lyttelton Harbour Board managed to work up a little unusual excitement this morning, and for a few moments it looked as if something would be "doing." Dr Thacker took exception to the fact that two members of the Board, Messrs Boag and Storry, had inserted an advertisement in the newspapers just before the recent Board election, alleging that he (Dr Thacker) had voted against all improvements in the harbour facilities of Lyttelton. It had been stated, he said, that the representatives of the Canal League had voted solidly against any improvements at Lyttelton. The statement was decidedly libellous. The Chairman (Mr E. Moore) expressed the opinion that the matter was not one for the Board's consideration, but Dr Thacker contended strongly that it was.

Mr Storry said that he did not think that his advertisement reflected on anyone. Dr Thacker: It was a distinctly libellous statement. Mr Friedlander: What has this to do with the Board? Dr Thacker: It has a great deal to do with it. Mr Friedlander: I am not asking Dr Thacker: I am asking the chairman. The Chairman: Messrs Storry and Boag "inserted the advertisement as candidates for election, and not as members. For that reason I hold that the Board has no control over them. Dr Thacker: Then the Board recognises their action as that of members of the Board. The Chairman: They were not acting as members of the Board. Dr Thacker: But they were members of the Board. The Chairman: They were not acting as members of the Board, but as candidates for election. That is the difference. Dr Thacker: It is a very fine difference. I shall get a legal opinion, and the matter may possibly be threshed out in public. Mr Dougall: It is -not a matter of opinion. What the advertisement said is a fact. The Chairman called for the next business, and the incident ended, although nearly every member of the Board was trying to say something on one side or the other.