The Government Libel Bill.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 6019, 10 August 1894, Page 4

The Government Libel Bill.

(bx telegraph.) (from our own correspondent.) Wellington, August 9. • The Newspaper Libel Limitation Bill, introduced by the Hon. J. M'Kenzle, is a brief measure of six clauses. It provides that if there is published in any newspaper an article or letter that has not appended to it the full name, and address of its writer, the proprietor, editor, printer, and publisher of such nespaper shall be severally liable to a penalty of not less than L 5 or more than LSO, to be recovered in a summary way before a Stipendiary Magistrate. When articles or letters are signed as required tbe publication, is privileged in so far as concerns the proprietor, editor, printer, or publisher of the newspaper, provided neither of these is the writer of the article or letter. The absence of the name of the author shall be evidence of express malice in any civil or criminal proceedings for libel against the proprietor, editor, printer,- or publisher of a newspaper. No penalty inflicted under this Act is a mitigation, bar, or answer to civil or criminal proceedings for libel. " Article" is defined to mean any printed matter (other than letters, commercial reports, and commercial advertisements) appearing in any newspaper and comprising more than 150 words. It will then be seen that the intention is that all reports, local paragraphs, arid selected matter from whatever source, as well as letters and leading articles, shall have the names of the writer appended to them. MAIL NOTICE. " Saturday, 11th August. DIRECT MAIL SERVICE. For United Kingdom and Europe, via Rio de Janeiro, per Kaikoura, sailing from Lyttelton,at 2 p. in. Parcel-post at 1.30 p.m. Correspondence must be specially all-, dressed. This mail will be due in London on 21st September. For Wellington, Picton, and Nelson, per Penguin, at 2.15 p.m. d For Dunedin, Port Chalmers, Palmeraton and intermediate , offices, daily at 6.30 a.m'.-'' and 4.45 p.m. For Christchurcb, daily at 2 15 p.m. _ For Wellington and northern . as specially notified ...... For Timaru, Waimate, and Waitakf, daily-: at 6.30 .m. and 2.15 and 3.45 For Pukeuri, Papakaio, G orgetown, l)untrooi', Ctiike, Kurow, and Hakateramea, dai-v at p.m. Fur Awamoko, on Monday, Wed es and Friday, at 3.30 p.m. For- Livingstone aud JVlaerewheiiiw.., " ues days and Fridays, at 3.30 p.m. For Waiareka, Weston, Enfield, and Windsor,' daily at 3.30 p.m. For Ngapara, on Mondays and Tuesdays' l Thursdays and Saturdays, 3.30 p.m. ; also Thursdays and Saturdays, at 6.30 a.m. For.Omarama, on T esdays and Fridays, at 3.30 p.m.