DEFAMATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8559, 23 October 1913, Page 8

DEFAMATION

TROUBLE THREATENED UGLY RUMOUR MENTIONED. NOT GOING THROUGH IN A HURRY. Mr Vernon Reed (Bay of Islands) brought up the report of tho Statics Revision Committee on the Defamation Bill, recommending that the measure should bo allowed to proceed with certain amendments. Ho moved that the report should lie upon tho table. Sir Joseph Ward asked what were tho alterations in tho bill: and were divisions shown? They wanted to know everything about this bill. He had heard it stated that this bill was to bo put at the top of the orderpaper, and that it was going through in a hurry. It was not going through in a hurry. “Just let mo tell the Minister in charge politely that that’ is so. It is a bill which will be debated and a great many amendments will be moved.” Mr Massey; 1 ‘You are going the .right way to get it on top of the or-fdor-paper I” • Sir Joseph Ward: “Well, while ho can put it on the top, I am telling him what we mean. Wo don’t mean to lot that hill go through this session. You will seo that what I say is going to bo done.” He suggested to the Minister to put the bill down on the order-paper, and ho did that with-, out heat. It was a bill that Would take a lot of time, and before the meeting at which the Minister was to disejiss various matters tho next day, it was only a fair thing to tell him that tho bill was going to he very strongly opposed by a number of members on the Opposition side, and bo should not be surprised to find Government members opposing the bill also. Were amendments, divisions, etc., shown in tho report? Mr Reed: “No, they are not!” He would try to have that done, however. CODIFICATION OF LAW. The Hon. A. L. Hordman said that the statement of the leader of the Opposition was one of the most amusing and extraordinary that Parliament had listened to this session. There had been no attempt on the part of the Government and no suggestion that this bill ;was going to be rushed through. Every possible facility would bo given to discuss this measure. The Government had introduced this hill at the express wish of a deputation of responsible gentlemen who .waited on the Prime Minister during the recess, and pointed out that certain provisions— Sir Joseph Ward: “I know all about it 1” Mr Herd man said the deputation pointed out that the law relating to defamation was entirely behind, and they desired that the law should he brought into line with England’s, Tasmania’s, and Australia’s. Tho Government desired to remove from the statute book one of the most stupid provisions ever placed upon the statute book of any community. There was no necessity to become petulant; the matter could be discussed in n calm and cool way, but if members wanted to obstruct the bill they could take tho responsibility. _ The Government intended and desired that the question should be discussed deliberately and in a sane way; also, that the law relating to defamation —through this bill, which codified and improved existing law and which could he understood by newspaper people and the public—should be brought into harmony with requirements. The Government had no objection to the minutes being placed before tho Ho’aee, though ho did not think the evidence was taken down in shorthand. If members desired the minutes, however, they could bo produced. “APPLE OP DISCORD.” Mr Q. W. Russell (Avon) hoped the Government would consider the question before they threw down on tho floor of the House a bill so highly debatable as the Defamation Bill. Ho admitted that the law should bo overhauled, hut they were now in the seventeenth week of the session, and except the Land Bill, all the important policy measures of the Government had to como before the House, and it was better to concentrate their attention on those important matters of policy instead of bringing in a highly debatable measure like this. Members were feeling tho strain of the session, and the country was looking towards the close of the session. But this bill would lead to a long and acrimonious discussion, and he suggested that it should bo left over till early next session. He protested against tho apple of discord being thrown in while every member wanted to get away. CONTENTIOUS PROVISIONS. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) thought there was no reason why the clauses could not be debated and amended as the House thought fit. He did not think the bill should be pressed this session; there were many contentious provisions. Evidence had been taken fully, and it was a pity that that evidence was not reported. Tho Premier would be well advised to hold over the bill till early next session. They could not help a long debate on tho ‘question, for round the liberty of the Press centred many long struggles. PREMIER’S DECLARATION. Tho Prime Minister said that he did not object to speeches such as tho last two. The facts were that a deputation had waited upon him some time ago, and he believed it represented the whole of the Press in the Dominion, and had asked for certain amendments of tho Libel Act. He had promised tho deputation that certain amendments would be brought down, and' the re r suit was the bill brought down to the Hotfec. But what he did object to was such a speech as had been deliver-

■td that afternoon by tho leader of the Opposition. Ho objected to a threat such as had been made that tho leader of tho Opposition would not let the bill pass without very long discussion. Ho wanted to tell the Opposition and their leader that as long as ho was leader of tho House tho business of the House was going to bo conducted on proper lines. Tho right hon. gentleman was justified in legitimately discussing matters and calling for divisions when ho thought it necessary, but he was not justified in saying, as ho had done that afternoon, that business was going to bo hung up. '“Wo do not propose to tolerate it,” said Mr Massey. ( Sir Joseph Ward said he would just like to give emphasis to what he had said before. “I Save said it, and I mean it,” said the leader of the Opposition. Tho motion that the report of the committee should lie upon the table, together with the minutes, was carried on the voices.