“N.Z. WORKER” CASE.

Wairarapa Age, 17 December 1924, Page 5

“N.Z. WORKER” CASE.

DAMAGES OF £lO. MAGISTRATE’S STRICTURES. WELLINGTON. Dec. 16.—Judgment was given by Mr Page, S.M., for Howard Elliott for £lO damages in the libel action against the “N,Z. Worker” and John Glover, publisher, for allegedly defamatory statement in the report of an address by Holland, M.P. The Magistrate said some of the defamatory passages were admittedly not 4nere expressions of opinion, but statements of fact, and the defence of fail’ comment "bn a matter of public interest eoufcl not be maintained. As regards the ground of the truth of the allegations His Worship said: “The passages in these articles (by plaintiff) and the pamphlets are bitter ,intolerant, sectarian attacks on the adherents of another church. They are calculated to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different classes of His Majesty’s subjects, and some of them are, in my opinion, seditious within the meaning of section.. 118 of the Grimes Act, 1908.” His Worship held, however, that defendant must prove the truth of all the allegations, and his defence fell something short of this, and therefore had not been established.

“Looking at the whole of the circumstances, I propose to award the plaintiff the sum of £lO by way of damages, with costs on that amount,” said Mr Page. Judgment was entered for plaintiff, with costs £4 18s.— (P.A.)