REPORTS OF COURT CASES

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1931, Page 9

REPORTS OF COURT CASES

BILL WILL PROHIBIT FILTH

“STAR CHAMBERS” NOT , WANTED.

INTERESTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

By Ttltgiriph.—Presi Association.

Wellington, Last Night. Moving the second reading of the Judicial (Regulation of Reports) Bill, Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central) in the House of Representatives, to-day said the Bill was drafted along the lines of the J3ri* tish Act, which had given every satisfaction. The BUI would have the effect of making newspapers carefid about anything they published and. aimed at the prohibition of the publication of filth. , . There was no attempt to turn the courts into Star Chambers, Mr. Fraser said, and under the measure the public would learn all the information to which it was entitled. The Bill was supported by leading churches throughout the Dominion and other authorities. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Justice, said the Bill was almost word for word the same as the English Act, but there was one important omission, the English Act provided that the consent of the Attorney-General shop d be obtained before any action could be taken- under the measure. He considered this was an important stipulatloMr. R. A. Wright (Reform., Wellington Suburbs) supported the . Bill, pointing out that it was in the interests of young people. , The Bill was read a second time.