Bullying writ large?
An anonymous commenter (are there any other sort on this blog?!)... well, comments:
I think the Chron has decided that, if discretion is the better part of valour, cowardice is the better part of discretion. The wonderful and usually inaccurate Wanganui rumour mill has it that several gagging writs have already been applied, and we all know about the Port of Wanganui allegations. Even the CoC report says they decided not to investigateUsually inaccurate the rumour mill may be, the issuing of gag writs isn't exactly a tactic unknown to the Diva. But even he usually waits till things get a little stickier than they are at present.
parts of that particular can of worms.
So, time for Chronicle Editor John Maslin to answer this simple question:
Has the Chronicle been, or is it currently the subject of, any writ, or written threat of a writ, from the Mayor (either in his official capacity or as a private individual) or District Council of Wanganui?
Alright, maybe not that simple, but with the Diva you need 1,001 subordinate clauses to get to the bottom of what he's up to.
If the answer to the above is "yes", then:
To what issues do the writ(s) or threats of writ(s) relate? (You can usually reveal the topic of the writ, just not the subject matter, unless it's a very strong writ indeed).
Let us know via lawswatchathotmaildotcom from your official Chron email (after all, anyone could leave a comment claiming to be Editor of the Chron, now couldn't they? Not that we're suggesting anyone would be such a deceitful little worm as to do such a thing *cough* Michael *cough* Morgs *cough*).
Remember, Mr Maslin, we're on your side. We actually believe all that guff about the importance of The Fourth Estate, and if the Chron is getting ankle tapped we'll be right there beside you, defending to the death your right to say anything about anyone (us included).
Comments on this post are now closed.
41 comments:
I heard it was five writ's to date.Gota to feel sorry for John. The bully boy's back in town.
I heard it was none.
Do you people not understand the law of defamation? As a former legal executive (oops) I can tell you that writs issued need to registered with the court. Go through the civil list at the district court and you'll have proof positive. They must all be made public.
That depends. Writs under $250,000 at district, over at High Court. Vrery good advertising deal stitched up I understand between Council & Chron. Worth $100,000 plus. Follow the money, White Rabbit.
I have not been served with a writ. I feel underprivileged and discriminated against on the basis I've been a good girl. How come naughty girls like Carol get ALL the fun?
Anonymous said
well done, Carol. And everyone at council now knows this is your blog. how? Apparently because..........
Desperate times, demand desperate measuress. This is really getting to Micky's mob.
Tee hee. Still haven't come close to figuring it out, have you, Michael?
There weren't "only three people at the meeting" unless you were only looking at the public gallery... but then you'd never be so naive, would you?
You think everyone who's had the displeasure of watching you at "work" is left bereft and defeated in your wake, perhaps?
Not so. You're confusing the Ghost the Ghost of Christmas Present with the Ghosts of Christmas Past.
*end cryptic mode* ;-)
Yes, I am starting to find the increasingly strident assertions rather poignant.
I keep on telling them, but clearly I'm lying, or mad, or something. Cheers bro.
roflmao
I heard it was nasty lawyer letters not writs, but really; rumours, people. Wanganui rumours flow as thick and fast as the river. We know about the threat of defamation action over the PoW stuff, 'cos Maslin made it public. A retraction and an apology were called for. Maslin responded by pulling Laws' column. I find it hard to see them in bed together after that. And somewhat gross too.
I'd like to know the point of this blog. OK, it's intended to be anti the mayor and anti his Vision colleagues. But it also appears to be anti non Vision councillors, John Maslin, Supt Doyle, the Wanganui Chronicle, Ratepayers Association, etc etc. And I haven't learned one new thing except that some councillor thinks she should have greater recognition than she's getting (all politicians think that so its a generic observation surely). I don't care who the authors are or who the anons are or if they're the same or different people. All I want to know is;
1. Who are the celebs caught in the drug bust up north?
2. Why is Maa Nonu not in the Tri-Nations squad?
3. what the hell happened to the hill on Great North Road and who are those vandals with their portaloo?
4. Why is the Chronicle giving me a bigger type face but less news for more money?
5. What are the Lotto numbers for this Saturday?
Some loser said:
"And you told the Chronicle it had nothing to do with C of C complainants. Oh tangled web dearie."
Actually I, Matt Dutton told them that. And Sean Hoskins contacted Lawswatch directly himself to verify it. Oh, that's right, I'm lying, and mad. The phonebox is getting a little cramped.
According to the Comic, Sean Hoskins contacted LawsWatch by e-mail and got his answers the same way. So exciting. Hardly conclusive Mattie.
Anonymous said...
According to the Comic, Sean Hoskins contacted LawsWatch by e-mail and got his answers the same way. So exciting. Hardly conclusive Mattie.
11:17 PM
Well, with a name like anonymous you're credibility's impeccable, naturally.
Go on, have it your way. This is actually Carol typing now. Your post is from Carol, so is the next one. She sets up little scripts to send messages while she's at Council meetings.
have you the slightest idea how funny this is? Get a grip, please.
Anon said (quite cogently I thought)
"anti the mayor and anti his Vision colleagues. But it also appears to be anti non Vision councillors, John Maslin, Supt Doyle, the Wanganui Chronicle, Ratepayers Association, etc etc. And I haven't learned one new thing "
Yeah, c'mon Lawswatch, what's your endgame strategy? Or is it just harsh, relentless and unending spotlight on Michael Brian Laws?
"Or is it just harsh, relentless and unending spotlight on Michael Brian Laws?"
At last, someone who gets it.
It's called accountability. Ever single person who asks for our votes volunteers for it.
This blog is LAWS Watch, not Wanganui Watch. If he rides Winnies tattered coat tails to Wellington and leaves Wanganui in the lurch / cheering his departure (depending on your point of view) we'll still be here.
We don't have an "endgame". As long as the Diva holds a position of influence (and that includes any role as sock puppeteer of Winnie) we'll spotlight his activities.
We'd be idiotic and arrogant to think we can "bring down" anyone elected to office. It's not our role, or our ambition. Only the electorate can do that - a properly informed electorate.
You've always loved the spotlight, Michael, but only when you could direct where it pointed and when it was switched off. Kinda hot under there when you don't have the control, huh?
Off topic, but we couldn't resist:
1. Who are the celebs caught in the drug bust up north?
NZ doesn't have celebrities, just people who desperately want to be. "Celebrity" shows have to stoop to featuring the Diva, after all. If celebrities are involved, we can only assume they've nabbed Nana Mouskouri with a bong, or something.
2. Why is Maa Nonu not in the Tri-Nations squad?
Possibly because they mis-spelled his name on the appointment letter. Never mind the pounds, lose a few vowels.
3. What the hell happened to the hill on Great North Road and who are those vandals with their portaloo?
What portaloo? That's Michael's new art gallery. The Serjeant is to be turned into a giant roller rink, with some of the sculptures remodelled to resemeble concession stands.
4. Why is the Chronicle giving me a bigger type face but less news for more money?
Read slower. Because every word unprinted equals one less threat from M Laws, we imagine.
5. What are the Lotto numbers for this Saturday?
Whatever they are, they're not the ones you put on your ticket.
Could it be that Carol Webb hates the Chronicle because she took it to the Press Council claiming biased coverage over coverage of the Code of Conduct non-issue - and the Press Council then dismissed her complaint? And then the Chronicle rubbed her nose in it? Moral of the story: don't shoot the messenger, Carol.
Now you're just projecting: Carol isn't a hateful person, but your posts sure say something about you.
Has anyone read the baby mayor's column today: it seems all is not well in kiddyland. "When it came to confirming the special meeting of full Council concerning the formation of a Youth Council, Mayor Michael Laws had apparently forgotten all about it, despite it being his suggestion to begin with."
Sob.
"It feels odd to me that such a marked downgrade constitutes progress..."
sob sob
Coming soon to Blog near you: the exciting new game show:
"Hunt the Messenger"
Celebrity contestants are invited to participate in this breathless scramble to identify one or more of five anonymous scandalmongers. As the scandals get bigger and bigger, and more dirt is dished on each celebrity contestant, we watch in amazement as ire turns to fear, as one by one the contestants fail to identify their quarry.
In the unlikely event that a contestant should catch one of the scandalmongers, they then move on to the final round:
"Shoot the Messenger!"
Morgs is great. Don't know why Carol/Matt rubbish him - he's an independent thinker and has a passonate belief in this city. Leave him alone. Hell, even the mayor likes him.
Morgs is passionate about Wanganui. What I don't like is when he rubbishes someone, like UCOL tutors, for example, then, by way of an apology, says: "It's only my opinion." There was a time when "opinion" columnists at least tried to stay within the facts, but this apparently has gone by the wayside. I think it's a lazy waste of his talent, but that's only my opinion. Perhaps he has other irons in the fire.
But that's all irrelevent next to the burning question: who or what is carolmatt?
Don't you have a job Matt? i'm a student, what's your excuse for slumming it in here?
I have too much work to do to need a job. Admittedly, that work is being affected by the addictive nature of the Blogosphere, but I'm doing ok. Thanks for your concern.
Oh, and get off your lazy student arse, go finish your schoolwork and get a job! ;)
The new Arts Update makes for interesting reading. Covers the progress (well actually it's a complete shambles at this point) of the "Friends of the Sarjeant". Points out that the Sarjeant already has 700 odd members, corporate, patrons, and general members.
Let's stop beating around the bush: here's my prediction: The "Friends" will be encouraged to appoint a new Trust Board by postal ballot.
Miraculously, a Vision dominated Trust Board will emerge, and start ripping into the Sarjeant's professional structure. Auction houses have already been approached and told to prepare themselves for a sale of our Nation's heritage.
If Nicki Higgie is reading this, perhaps she'd like to comment independently on the matter. What's the matter Nicki, pitbull got your tongue?
Anonymous said...
Morgs is great ... Hell, even the mayor likes him.
Just read Morg’s column in today’s Chron. You guys should stop picking on the poor kid. He’s just desperately trying to identify with Michael as a father figure but seems to have suffered a cruel rejection and the public humiliation that goes with it. A bit of amateur Freudian sleuthing would conclude that in Michael’s case, the same sort of treatment probably screwed him up, so perhaps it will also speed up the development of poor Morg's celebrity complex.
Leave Morgs alone. Pick on someone your own IQ. There's a chicken sokmewhere ...
It's ironic that someone who won't even own their own words uses the word "chicken".
Morgs can stand the heat, he's a big boy. Stop patronising him.
yeah, spare me, a Laws supporter complaining about ad hominem attacks. Hypocrite.
From Jane Clifton’s new book, Political Animals: “Laws has been out of national politics for years but his name is still a byword for pure, gratuitous and recreational trouble. That the electors chose to make him their mayor in 2004 tells you how badly they wanted to punish their city council. In his cheerful, entertaining way, Michael Laws is the embodiment of the saying, ‘Get a dead dog up ya'."
Very funny. But Laws would laugh at that description too. Listen to him on Radio Live sometimes - he has a sense of humour.
What's Laws' sense of humour got to do with it? I'm sure he's the life & soul of the party, and he's got very nice teeth. Top bloke, in fact. It's just that his political behaviour is incompetent and contemptuous. I mean, imagine leaving Morgs & the Yoof in the lurch like that; what a pillock. It's like the Film Festival - shoots his mouth off then isn't there to back it up when it counts.
haha problems with the Chron. Carol & Mas chat pretty regularly I think you'll find. It's an old paper struggling hard to keep up. As someone's Dad used to say after a clip 'round the ear: "That's for nothing, now do something."
Talking about Michael having a sense of humour - it's not often that I agree with him but he was right when he said in the Chron after this blog was launched that it has a sense of humour, not to mention that it is "hilarious" and "funny".
Right on, Michael. So why don't you just relax and enjoy it instead of getting all uptight and obsessed.
What? Laughalong with LawsWatch? What a pack of wankers.
Give poor Morg a break. It's hard when your hero humilliates you. Don't worry Morg, Your just one of many who thought the man was something hes not. If you think it's bad for you, wait till Nikki, Muzza and co wake up and smell the flowers
No Idea said...
What? Laughalong with LawsWatch? What a pack of wankers.
7:11 PM
It's such a shame when people get angry and start using abusive terms. Try and take deep breaths, and concentrate on a point about 1 inch below your navel. Go for a walk, fall in love, enjoy your weekend. It's only politics, poppet.
Good advice. Everyone in here could stand some TLC and a tab.
Ok, I've had the tab. And I'm still pissed off.
You must learn to harness your anger, grasshopper.
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