Privacy law opposed

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34146, 6 May 1976, Page 21

Privacy law opposed

I (N.Z.P.A.Reuter —copyright) LONDON I The Government-sponsored British Press Council has come out against the in- [ troduction of laws pre-| venting the British press| disclosing details of people’s, private lives. The council said that such a privacy law would be against the public interest. A row developed over the' question of personal privacy, after the press printed! details of Princess Marga-I ret’s private life when her[ [marriage to Lord Snowdon ended. The Press Council, has been studying the prob-1 lem since. The statement said: “Thei council is convinced that the right of privacy is incapable |of satisfactory definition by statute law and that any at-, tempt to legislate on privacy! would be contrary to the public interest.” The council set out a six-j 'point policy saying such incursions into ah individual’s private life should only be made when the story serves a legitimate public interest. But the introduction of any privacy law, the statement said, “would make it more difficult for the press to carry out these duties of vigilance, inquiry and disclosure which are appropriate to a healthy democracy.” Expensive cow ! A Holstein cow has been sold in Oakville. Ontario, Canada, for a world record SNZ2OO.OOO. Romandale Reflection Cristy. eight years old and pregnant, was sold to a 33-year-old Indiana farmer. Mr Ray Edwards. The previous record was • 5NZ194.000 —Oakville.