LIBEL ALLEGED.

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19942, 20 July 1936, Page 2

LIBEL ALLEGED.

"...—— lIAIAN lull OFFICIALS. EVIDENCE FOR DEFENCE. (I! Telemann—Press Association.) \VELLINGTON. Sunday. The hearing oi the claim of Douglas Gibson. a member of the Seaman's Union. tor £6OO as damages for alleged libel brought against Fintan Patrick Walsh and Felix Newtleld. ofllclala oi the union. was continued to-day be-toro Mr Justice Blair. Mr L. K. Wiiaon Appeared for plaintiff, and Mr E. P. May for dete‘ndanta. Defendant Walsh. cross-examined by Mr “'ilson. said that Gibson endeavoured to undermine the constitutional methods of running the union organism tion and to turn it into a rabble. Gibson also did ihnt during the Greymouth strike, Gibson took part in putting up a candidate against witness (or the? presidency of the union. lle knew Gibson and those associated with him were getting their instructions trom an outside political body. and that. body was netting its instructions from a foreign country. "Never Made the chat-go." Mr Wilson: Did you know that Gibbon voted against the Communist Party on more than one occasion in the Trades Hall? 7 Witness: i knew that he argued certain matters with them. Mr “'ilson: Are you willing to with- ~ draw the rhnrgc that plaintiff had “nefarious ways at earning a liveli—- . hood"? ‘ \‘Vitness: l nm‘er made‘ the charge. l only reported it in my omcial capacity. His Honour: (:ounsel means, do you support that Stat-uncut? » Witness: No. i do not. Thomas Frank Benson, seaman, said he was a mcnilmr of a voinmittco of five which “as set up in May, i 933, to consider a proposal to amend the constitution of tho union. \Viincss was s-‘i-rctqu'y nnri Gibson wns t‘hilii" ‘ man. Witness was approached hy several mmnhcrs of the union. who suggested thni, the committee should urge members nt‘tc'r a subsequent meeting to exprl tho officials. l‘iihson, supported by others. made the sua- _‘ nestion. Witness said he “as noncommittal. Mr Hay: \‘.‘orc the members of that committcr suhjcrtcd to victimisation by the union 1’ \\'itncss: The suggestion is absolute rubbish. Mr Hay: “'th “as Gibson‘s otii~ tudo to tho ottlrinls of tho union" “'itnrss: Absolutely lmstiit‘. The hearing “its :uljuurnc-t.