HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11796, 27 July 1900, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THURSDAY, JULY 26.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to the Premier, the Chairman of the Printing and Reporting Debates Committee stated that the committee had not passed any resolution to the effect that only pressmen should be appointed to the Hansard staff. The committee had not considered the matter. In the course of -a brief di?.cu.?sion which followed, the PREMIER paid that Government could make an appointment to the staff without consulting the Speaker; but in face of the resolution of the House to the contrary it would be a wrong thing to do. The SPEAKER said that knowing none of the candidates for the present vacancy, he had consulted the committee as to thorn, and that was all. "No attempt was made by the committee to interfere with his power to recommend a candidate for appointment to the position. The subject then dropped. GISBORNE HARBOUR BOARD. The House went into Committee on the Gisborne Harbour Board Further Empowering Bill. Captain RUSSELL opposed the bill on the I ground that the harbour was in the wrong place as proposed, and the previous expenditure useless. —Mr J. ALLEN suggested that the unexpended balance, along with tho Government subsidy.-should be devoted to giving tho district connection by rail with the nearest port.—A motion that the chairman leave the chair was lost by M to 5.

The bill was reported with minor amendment, read a third time, and passed.

THAMES BOROUGH ENDOWMENT. The Thames Borough Endowment Leasing Bill was committed.

Mr ELL moved as an amendment —" That the period of leasing lands be 42 years instead of 99 years." Lost by 33 to 10. The bill was reported.without amendment, read a third time, and passed.

Mi J. HUTCHESON moved the second raadinsr of the Wellington City Betterment Bill designed to cast upon properties immediately benefited by certain works in widening streets a share of the cost of the same. The debate was Interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING

The House resumed at 7.30.

The debate on the second reading of the Wellington City Betterment Bill was continued.

The PREMIER said he thought it would hare been better to have a general measure brought down dealing with such matters, and making it applicable to the whole colony. The second reading was carried on the ELECTRIC LIGHTING. Mr FOWLDS moved the second reading of the Auckland Electric Lighting Bill.—Carried on the Voices. EXCHANGE OF LAND. Mr J. IIUTCHESON moved the second reading of the Wellington Corporation Land Exchange Bill.—Carried on the voices. THE LAW OF LIBEL. Mr. CARNCROSS moved the second reading of the. Libel Billon lines similar to those contained in the' bill previously* before Parliament. He said the colony was years behind the times in the matter" of the libel laws, and the bill now under discussion was drafted on lines similar to the English Jaw. It was a reproach to the colony that newspaper proprietors should be, as they were under the present law, laid open to blackmail. All the bill intended to accomplish was protection for fair and impartial reports of public- meetings and court proceedings, provided the said re-

ports are published contemporaneously with such meetings1 or court proceedings. The interests of the general public were carefully safeguarded, as the leader and local columns and correspondents', letters were not protected, and it was in. these columns, and not in reports of meetings, that libels occurred.

Mr LA WRY said no public man need fear a faithful report of a meeting or fair press criticism if they; did rtheir duty. Mr FISHER intimated his uncompromising hostility to the bill. He intimated his intention to move an amendment to the effect

that not less than two days after the publica tion of any defamatory or malicioiis statement an explanation by the person aggrieved should be inserted in a part of the paper equally prominent to that in which the stateni^nt complained of appeared, and in type similar to that, in which such statement was printed. He contended that instead of greater licence being given to newspapers people should be given greater protection against attacks by the. press. Mr SEDDON opposed the bill on the ground that it would give greater licence to the press. It was his duty to protect the rights and privileges, of the people." The bill did not .effect that purpose. On the contrary, if passed it might lead to homes beinginvaded, and would remove the safeguards now existing, and it would be difficult to pay what would be the result. "He intimated his intention to remove the copyright on cable messages by the Press Association,, and pointed to the great danger of private reputations suffering if the publication of court proceedings were privileged. Mr BARCLAY thought' .instead of the press being blackmailed, it was #he press which blackmailed people. He condemned the unscrupulous way in which public men had been attacked by newspapers, and intimnted his intention of heartily opposing the bill.

Messrs R. THOMPSON and M'NAB supported the bill.

Mr G. W. RUSSELL could not support the lull, on the ground that it went too far. He condemned the. impost, made by the Press Association, as n. joining fee, urging the Legislature to. interfere in that matter.

Mr HANAN considered that to give the press greater liberty than it at present possessed would create a great danger to the public, and he objected to conceding to the press a privilege denied to the individual.

Mr GILFEDDER did not think the press in the colony under any obligation to Mr Carncross for again bringing forward the bill, after the reception it met with last session. It was not the respectable journals that were demanding the measure, but fcurrilous rags that revelled in quagmires of abuse.

Mr LEWIS did not agree with all tho provisions of the' bill, but would support the sc.'ond reading. Mr WILFORD objected to the proposal I to consolidate actions, believing no jury would j give excessive damages. j Mr COLLINS asked if the newspaper press of the colony had asked for the bill, and if they wished their privileges extended. As a whole, the press of the colony was reputable. He was afraid if they opened the door, too great a license would result in the establishment of a class of journal of a very low type. Mr SYMES moved the adjournment of the debate.

.Lost on the voices.

. Mr CARNCROSS having replied, the second reading was lost by 23 to 20. The House rose at. 1 a.m.