BREACH OF PRIVILEGE

Northern Advocate, 5 November 1932, Page 8

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE

COMMITTEE’S REPORT. ARTICLE IN NEWSPAPER. EDITOR EXPRESSES REGRET. (From Our Pniiiamemary Special.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Committee of Privilege, which reported to the House of Representatives yesterday, on a loading article published in the AVcllington “Dominion” on October 6, entitled “Commission and Politicians,” said that it was its opinion that the article .constituted a breach of privilege, more particularly certain paragraphs, but the editor, Mr C. W. Earle, C.M-G., having made ah explanation by letter and in person to the committee, and having expressed his regret, the committee recommended that no further action be taken. Mr Earle said the article was not intended, and was not regarded, as an attack on the privileges of members of Parliament. It was an article dealing with a subject which had occasioned very great concern, and it was written from a sense of duty, with the sole object of serving the public interest. The newspaper press in this and other British communities in the past had boon permitted to exercise a free right of criticism on all questions of public, interest and concern. The views expressed in the article, or similar views, had passed unchallenged by Mr Speaker within the walls of Parliament itself, and might bo found in speeches by members of all political groups. The article had been written in the hope and belief that •it Avould direct attention to and assist to check a dangerous tendency which had been creeping insidiously into Now Zealand public life, and which, if permitted to pans unchallenged, must, prove injurious or even ruinous, to all classes.