PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 74, 18 July 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Per Pbebh Asbooiatioh.] Wellington, July 17. The Legislative' 1 Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hons. 0. Samuel, J. McGregor, R. K. Simpson, W. Morgan, R. Moore, J. McGibbon and J. Fisher were sworn in. It was decided that the Fire Brigades Amendment Bill be taken at next sitting. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr G. M. Thomson moved the second readingi of the Presbyterian Church Property Act, 1885, Amendment Bill—Passed without debate. THE EDUCATION BILL. In reply to Mr Craigie, the Minister said that personally he did not care what boundaries were agreed upon; so long as the districts were reduced in number. That could he done quite; well by the Education Committee without taking special evidence. '. MOTOR REGULATION. .Mr Herdman introduced the Motor Regulation Bill, under which all motor cars will be licensed and registered, and drivers are also to be licensed, the fees to lie apportioned between the Consolidated Fund and the local bodies interested. Mr Wilford urged that the tax should take the form of a tax upon tyres collected through the Customs House. Mr Massoy did not agree with that view, and said the tax should be based on the values and horse-power of the car. Sir Joseph Ward considered they wanted more information as to how ninny ears were running in the Dominion in order to arrive at an idea of how much taxation was to be raised. Mr Hindmarsh urged that in case of accident the car, and not the owner, should be held liable for damages. Mr Russell protested against the Bill as a form of class tax. The Bill was read a first time. LAND AND INCOME TAX. Mr Allen moved the second readmo- of the Land Tax and Income Tax Bill, He stated that it made no al-

teration in the amount of the tax levied. Sir Joseph Ward asked if Mr Allen would supply the House with information as to the effect of the stepping system introduced hy the Treasurer in connection with the ordinary land tax. By how much had the system increased the taxation, and the number of taxpayers? Mr Massey, in reply, declared that there had not been any increase in the rate of the land-tax levied since his Government had come into office. The only people whoso land tax had increased were those whose valuations had gone up beyond the increase made in the graduated tax. There had been no legislation introduced % the Government increasing taxation, in spite of what the leader of the Opposition had stated from the public plat- ! form. Sir Joseph Ward denied that he had | ever said the Government had by {legislation increased the indirect taxation, but that did not alter the fact that the taxation, had increased by 10s id per head under a Government that had promised to reduce taxation. Mr Russell declared that since Mr Massey had declared as part of the "Reform" platform that taxation must be reduced the taxes taken from the people had increased by £1,097,000. Mr Allen, in reply, said that one of the reasons why a Customs Bill had not been brought down last year was the waste of time resulting from the stonewall. There was no encouragement for the Government to bring down reduction of taxation. There was no alteration in the land tax last year. The second reading of the Bill was agreed to. THE LIBEL LAW. Mr Herdman moved the second reading of the Defamation Bill. He was satisfied that members would find the Bill a wise one. It was very difficult for journalists to find out their legal position with regard to libel. The Bill attempted to draw a line between free speech and the right of a citizen to have his'character protected.

EVENING SESSION. Mr Herdman proceeded with his explanation of the Defamation Bill. Sir Joseph Ward said the Bill was an important one, affecting the public life, the private life, and the homes of the people. He opposed clause 28, which protected a proprietor from criminal prosecution for defamation where the matter complained of was "inserted without his knowledge. This Bill threw the onus of proof upon the injured parties. That was not fair. The passage of the Bill would, play into the hands of wealthy men, who cbuld afford to take risks. He did not think that the proprietors had applied for a change, nor was it necessary. Mr Hanan' said that a special power was. being given to the newspaper proprietors which was not extended to other individual's. The Press should not be encouraged to hold up public men to scorn and ridicule. Mr McCallum said that at present there was not a single instance of hardship suffei-ed by the Press of New Zealand, and instead of giving 1 extended privileges to the Press these should be curtailed.

Mr Russell gave instances of attacks which could be made upon public men. It was not fair that a report should be published of infamous statements by a man of straw at a public meeting. The Minister had not shown that a change in the law was necessary. Under the law at present the first thing a man had to .do who slandered another man was to prove that his action was in the public interest. Unless protected, men would fight shy of public life. Mr Herdman, in reply, claimed that tho Bill advanced, public interests and was a distinct advancement on the present law. It was an advantage that people should be able to read reports of public meetings and that the Press should be able to publish anything that was in the public interest. The Press was bound by that reservation. Reports of meetings of local authorities could be published. Then why not reports of public meetings so long as they were fair and accurate and in the public interest Misconceptions existed regarding clause 28. A newspaper proprietor was not criminally liable for matter published in his paper without his knowledge, but ho was not relieved from civil Liability. On the motion for tho second reading a division was called for, and tho motion was carried by 33 to 21. / The House rose at 11.30 p.m.