Correspondence Mr. Mazengarb and The Law of Libel

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 184, 6 August 1938, Page 6

Correspondence

Mr. Mazengarb and The Law of Libel

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I have read with restrained emotion (!) the speech delivered at Johnsonville, and reported in this morning’s “Times.” Mr. Mazengarb is a very clever, and, I believe a very honest lawyer; but, Sir, he is guilty of self-deception when he advocates that M.P. ’s making slanderous statements in Parliament should be subject to prosecution the same as any ordinary citizen. The question is not so easily solved as that. An M.P. is a trustee for the people, and he should have the right to express himself frankly when statements are mado that may be injurious to the* State without having to face a costly legal action for carrying out his plain duty. Mr. Mazengarb's statements refer, of course, to the Semple-Stone incident. In my opinion Mrs. Stone is no more defenceless than the invalids to whom she is alleged to have spoken. To be logical, Mr. Mazengarb would also have to advocate that if a party is libelled—as the Labour Party undoubtedly were—then it should, as a party, have the right to take legal action against the person committing the libel. If an individual has legal protection against libel and slander, then a group of individuals ought to have the same right. But it is too late in the day for Mr. Mazen garb to complain. He knows as well as I do that some time ago Uncle “Scrim” had a taste of the same thing from (I think) the irresponsible plunger who represents New Plymouth. Where was Mr. Mazengarb then? Mr. Poison the other day said that the president of the Federation of Labour was a Communist. He said that in Parliament. The question is, will he repeat the statement outside? So far as Mrs. Stone is concerned, the only question that concerns the people is, is Mr. Semple's charge true or false? Tf it ij true, then Mrs. Stone deserves all she got. We surely cannot be asked to curb the agelong right of our members to meet the wishes of Mrs. Stone and Mr. Mazengarb. In my opinion the euro would be worse than the disease. In any case, the Speaker of the House is the best judge of what should, and what should not, be said.—l am, etc., SOCIALIST. 5/8/38.