LIBEL LAW

Evening Star, Issue 14525, 29 November 1910, Page 8

LIBEL LAW

BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE. In the House last evening, The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Law of Libel Act Amendment Bill. He said that the Dominion was far behind other countries in regard to the Law of Libel. The Bill did not go as far as tho English law. As the law stood, Press reports were not privileged except so far as parliamentary and lawcourt reports were concerned. The Bill was intended to givo tho Press privilege in regard to reports of meetings,of public bodies and to prevent "chain" actions. Mr T. E. Taylor moved that the Bill be read this day six months. He said tho newspapers of the Dominion were doing very well. He> referred to the Press Association as one of the fattest monopolies in the country. He was surprised that tho Prime Minister, who had been as much maligned by the Press as any- public man, should bring down this Bill at a late period of the session. Ho protested against such a Hill while newspapers wero prevented from getting cable news at cost price through the existeuco of the Press Association. Another reason for his opposition was that Land and Labor legislation had been postponed, and these were moro necessary than an amendment to the Law of Libel, which he was not opposed to. No one had asked for the Bill. Ho did not believe any injustice had boon done to a singlo individual for tho want of such a measure. If the House had any time to spare, let it turn its attention to Land or Labor legislation. The amendment was not seconded. .Mr Massoy opposed the Bill for reasons different from those of Mr Taylor. Ho resented the attempts being made to rush the Bill through at the close of tho session. It ought, to have been brought down months ago. Mr Wright said ho would .support the Bill. 110 failed to sec why killing it would destroy the Press Association monopoly. Sir J. G. Ward, answering Mr Taylor's assertion that the Bill had not been asked for, read a letter from the New Zealand Institute of Journalists hoping that tho Bill would puss into law. The Bill could be dealt with in half an hour unless members desired to block it for the sake of blocking it. Tho question of tho Press Association had nothing to do with the matter. He hoped the majority of the House would support tho Bill, which embodied a necessary measure of reform. On a division, "the second reading was carried by 53 votes to 18. The following is the division list : Ayes (53). —Allen, ' Anderson. Arnold, Brown, Buddo, Buxton, Carroll, Clark, Colvin, Craigie, Davey, Dillon, J. Duncan, Ell, Field, Forbes, Eraser, Glover, Graham, Greenslade, Hall, Ha nan, Herdman, Horries, Hogan. Hogg, Jennings, Kaihau, Laurenson, Luke, MacDonakl. 11. M'Kenzie, T. Mackenzie, Mander, Millar, Ngata, Parata, Poland, Poole, Te Rangihiroa, Reed, Ross, Russell, Scddon, Sidoy, Smith, Stall worthy, Sir William Steward, E. If. Taylor, Sir J. G. Ward, Wilford, Witty, Wright, Noes (18).—Buchanan. Buick, Dive. Fisher, Guthrie, Hardy, Hine, Lang, M'Laren, Malcolm, Massey. Newman, Nosworthy. Okey, Pearce, Phillips, Scott, f. E. Taylor.