ALLEGED LIBEL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19448, 6 November 1925, Page 6

ALLEGED LIBEL

AN INTERESTING CASH ECHO OF THE WAR [Per Prees Association.] AUCKLAND, Nov. 5. An action for alleged libel, with damages assessed at £5OOO, commenced fit the Supreme Court before Mr Justice Herdman and a. jury of twelve. ( John Ignatus Fox, pro organiser of the New Zealand Dairy Farmers Union, is the plaintiff, and William Goodfellow, managing-director of th* New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co.. is the defendant. The statement of claim alleges that on July 2, 1925, at Hamilton, defendant falsely and maliciously spoke an i published, to J. G. Wynyard, of !<• Awamatu, a farmer’ agent of plaintiff, the following words: ‘‘lf Fox had hirights ho would have been shot twinas a spy.” On July .14, 1925, it waalleged that defendant maliciously published tho following: “Fox was twice reported as a spy.” Further allegations wore that defendant had stated: “William Ran stead reported Fox to the authorities as a probable spy. A very clumsy policeman was put on to shadow Fox. who had suddenly become very careful and did not give himself nway. Wil liam R. next met Fox at Gallipoli, where Fox was engaged as a cook at headquarters. This was a position where he could get a lot of useful in formation. William R. reported him again, with the result that he was shipped back to New Zealand.” Air Seymour, for plaintiff, had hfirdly commenced his opening when Sir John Findlay asked for an adjournment as there was a chance of a settlement. This was figreed to. but no settle ment was reached, and the case was resumed. Mr Seymour, for plaintiff, said Fo\ was induced to go to the Waikato !«» organise for the Waikato Dair Farm era’ Union, which was a separate am.' distinct organisation from the New Zealand Co-op. Dairy Company, < f whb-h Mr Goodfellow was the managing di rector. Mr Seymour said there was. in fact, a war on between the dairy com pany and the union. “We say that Goodfellow, deeming that l'o\ v.as there to injure him. deliberately set out to blackmail Fox out of the Wai kato. ’’ Sir John Findlay here interposed with, an objection. Evidence was given in support < f th'statement of claimant. The case was adjourned until to -hut row.