ALLEGED LIBEL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 2645, 8 July 1926, Page 5

ALLEGED LIBEL

CLAIM FOR £SOOO DAMAGES.

AN AUCKLAND CASE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, this day.

At the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday, Alfred Harold Skelton, barrister and solicitor, who with Miss Mackay, went to an Irish conference at Paris in 1921 as delegates of the New Zealand Self-Determination for Ireland League, began an action, before Mr Justice Stringer and a special jury, claiming £SOOO damages for libel. The defendants wore Henry Hastings scabroolt and Thomas ' Farrell, printers, Auckland, but only" nominal damages were claimed from Farrell. The action arose out of tire distribution of allegedly defamatory circulars during the general election last year, when plaintiff was Nationalist candidate for Roslcill. Sir John Findlay, with Mr G. Metcalfe, appeared for plaintiff, and Mr G. P. Finlay and Mr H. M". Rogcrson for defendants. Skelton, in giving evidence, said when he was about to enlist he received a telegram from Sir Jas. Allen begging him, to carry on with his work. He had been doing recruiting and was in the National Reserve.

Explaining the effect of the alleged libel on his business witness said that after 192.1 his business dwindled. He had been boycotted in several documents said to have been published by /the Self-Determination League. He replied he did not believe they were official. He did not know much about the organisation. His Honour remarked witness went away to represent it.

For reply to a question by Counsel as to how much money he got out of it, witness thought about a thousand. In reply to the Judge, .Skelton said a man like Collins had to placate a strong section of republicans opposed to his' views. Collins had told him this was the attitude he adopted. The case resumes to-day.