30 JULY 1910, Page 3

The papers of last Saturday published a letter from Mr.

Walter Judd drawing attention to the law of libel as it relates to newspapers. Any man of straw, abetted by an unscrupulous solicitor, can start an action for libel against a newspaper. The purpose of such an action, we believe, is often to induce the newspaper to pay something in order to avoid the trouble of going on with the case. Mr. Judd there- fore proposes that the defendant shall be enabled to apply to a Judge or Master of the Supreme Court for an order requiring the plaintiff to give security for costs. This is a very desirable reform, and we trust that if Mr. Judd can persuade a Member of Parliament to introduce a short Bill it will speedily become law.