PRIVY COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1929, Page 7

PRIVY COUNCIL

IRISH “COPYRIGHT” APPEAL. (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, December 4. The Irish Free state’s attitude toward the Privy Council is likely shortly to be tested, owing to a pbnding appeal, in which the Bray Urban Council is concerned. Bray is a seaside resort near Dublin. During a carnival in-1926, the Council’s band allegedly played the selection “Lilac Time,” and also an oldtime waltz, “Venus on Earth.” A performing rights society brought an action for an infringement of copyright, and won the case in the local Court, but the Supreme Sourt reversed the decision. Hence the appeal to the Privy Council.

MR MACDONALD’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, December 8. In the House of Commons, on a motion for the adjournment, the Marquis oi Hartington (Conservative; called attention to the right of British subjects overseas to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. In view of the statement by the Minister that the Irish Free State no longer intended to respect the jurisdiction of that final Court, he hoped Mr MacDonald would make a decisive announcement on the matter. Mr MacDonald,'replying, said that the matter of appeals to the Privy Council was' discussed at the Imperial Conference in 1926, and it was then referred to the next Imperial Confer ence. The Government expected that if any Dominion Government desired to go. beyond that open and settlefl position, it should communicate with the British Government. '