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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 2

[trade dispatches]

Messrs Jones & Sons, printers, Wanganui, were charged with issuing an « early-closing » leaflet entitled « Don't shop, » without an imprint. The J.P. before whom the case was brought, being himself a printer, declined to decide it, and it came before the Resident Magistrate on the 13th inst. It was shewn that the omission was simply through inadvertence; and the magistrate inflicted the minimum penalty, £5—at the same time intimating that he would lay the case before the authorities with the view of obtaining a refund.

Mr John Martin, publican, brought an action against the Wellington Post for libel, claiming £1000 damages. Plaintiff's wife, who was addicted to drink, committed suicide last November. At the inquest evidence was given that though one of the children had told Martin that her mother had taken poison, he did not interfere, and in fact was not in a condition to do so. The Post, commenting upon the case, severely censured the licensing committee, who had received complaints of the drunken habits of Martin and his wife, for allowing him to hold a licence. The case was heard on 24th January. Plaintiff alleged that the article had injured his business, describing him as « besotted with drink, » and « devoid of humanity. » Defendants pleaded that the matter was of public interest, and that the article was true, and published for the public good, without any sinister motive. The special jury gave a verdict for defendants, with costs on the highest scale.

At the meeting held to decide « if the Evening News should be allowed to die, » Mr W. C. Smith, m.h.r. for Woodville, made some interesting statements concerning the « liberal » press. Referring to the desperate financial condition of the News, he said it was not at all exceptional. The Herald, in Dunedin, had ruined « that fine fellow, Mr Bracken, » and was carried on at a heavy loss, and the opposition papers in the other centres (four or five of which he mentioned by name) were in a like predicament. This may not be creditable to the party; but when it is remembered that the organs in question all advocate restrictive land legislation, extravagant expenditure, and increased taxation in the form of protective duties to make up the deficit and at the same time enrich manufacturing companies at the public expense, it will be seen that Mr Smith quite unwittingly paid a high compliment to the good-sense of the public of New Zealand.