DEFAMATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8559, 23 October 1913, Page 10

DEFAMATION

REPORTS OF CREDITORS’ MEETINGS. Among amendments made by the Statutes Revision Committee to the Defamation Bill, it is proposed to make lawful the publication of fair and accurate reports of the proceedings of any meeting of creditors under the law relating to bankruptcy; also fair and accurate reports of the proceedings of any meeting of shareholders of any bank or public company, so far as the report relates to matters of public con->. cern and the publication is for public benefit. The committee has struck out the clause making lawful the publication of defamatory, matter if such matter is true and published for public benefit. The following has been substituted:—“lt is a good defence in an action for defamation that the matter is true.” A new clause has also been added making it a good defence that the defamatory matter was true and that it was for the public benefit that the publication complained of should be made. Another proposal is that it is lawful to publish at the request of a Government office or department, officer of State, or Superintendent or Inspector of Police, any notice of report issued by such office or official, so far as it relates to matters of public concern, and publication is for the public benefit.