Defamation action against Salient threatened

That the Association do reject the demand of Messrs Bungay, Kwok & Co, solicitors for Detective Sergeant C.W. Lines, for an apology and retraction of statements made in the issue of Salient of 25 July concerning the behaviour of Detective Sergeant Lines during the course of demonstrations at Wellington Airport on Saturday, 13 June, against the All Black Tour of South Africa.

The above motion, moved Harcourt, seconded Nesbitt, was deferred at Monday's SRC meeting for further discussion at the meeting of the SRC which will be held tomorrow. The Association and the Salient Editor have received letters from Messrs Bungay, Kwok & Co alleging that "references to the actions of Detective Sergeant Lines are completely untrue and without foundation." The solicitors advise that "failing such retraction and apology, our instructions are to commence proceedings after expiration of one month from the date hereof claiming damages for such blatent (sic) defamatory statements". The solicitors' letter is dated 20 July. Discussion of this matter on Monday was held in committee in the SRC and cannot be reported in this issue of Salient.