DEFAMATION BILL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13131, 18 July 1913, Page 4

DEFAMATION BILL.

: FREEDOM 'OP- THE PRESS (EXTENDED. (From our Parliamentary . Reporter.) * „■ , WELLINGTON, this day. The Defamation pill wai circulated to-day. It- codifies '7 the law relating to Übel, sets out all cases m which libel or slander .is - protected or partially, r- lAn ;. important -provision makes it lawful to publish defamatory matter? if it is true and for the public benefit that it should be published. The Bill also includes- provisions 'for' the'consolidation of libel- actions against .newspapers to prevent successive--, proceedings. .» It enables a defendant to lodge a small sum, with a denial of liability, the plaintiff paying costs m the- event of ths defendant winning.- • The- Bill abolishes criminal liability for slander. Another amendment does away with a Magistrate dealing summarily with a criminal charge of libel, and. allows the defendant to demand a jury m all cases. Tlie Bill practically incorporates the present English libel law-, i.plus-the atecommendation; Of the. .conference held .on. the matter m England two years ago. Ths freedom of the preS£ is generally'' extended, except \<*here defamatory-' -matter is habitually printed. ■■ The -Bill contains provisions protecting newspapers fromvaotions. by impecunious persons, by insisting on. the plaintiff's giving Security for costs.. Itpermits the publication -of a fair a/id accurate report ; pf. any Court proceedings, unless ..wheue the proceedings are v . notfinal and. the Court* has prohibited publication, or unless the mattsr is blasphemous or obscene. , -