PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 129, 30 May 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE.

FIXING THE PENALTIES. SYDNEY, May 29. The Joint Select Committee of th< Federal House .on the procedure for thi trial and punishment of persons chargec with breaches of the powers, privileges and immunities of either Chamber, presented its progress report to-day. The committee says that it does noi propose to elevate breaches of privilege and contempt in Parliament to the higt criminal grade of indictable crimes 01 misdemenants required to be tried by a jury. Such offences should be dealt with by a judge, and, if possible, by a justice of tht High Court, sitting in original and sum mary jurisdiction and dealing with eacl case as promptly and inexpensively a! possible. TJie committee recommends legislatior to provide that persons printing, pub lishing, or uttering any false, malicious or defamatory statement calculated t< bring the Senate or House or members 01 committees_into hatred, contempt, or ridi cule; attempting improperly to interfer< with or unduly influence, or obstructing or assaulting or bribing or attemptinf to bribe members in the discharge o: their duties, shall be deemed guilty of t breach of privilege and contempt, bi liable to be prosecuted, that the onlj defence available shall be justificatioi or proof of the truth of the statements and that upon a judge finding the com plaints proved he may impose a fine not exceeding '£500, or imprisonment not ex ceeding 12 months, and may also ordei the accused to pay costs. \ -