AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13664, 30 May 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES.

By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright. 1 MELBOURNE, May 29!

The Joint Select Committee of tho Federal House of Representatives on procedure for trial and punishment of persons charged with breach of powers, privileges and immunities of either Chamber has presented a progress report. The committee says it does not propose to elevate breaches of privilege and contempt of Parliament to the high criminal ' grade of indictable crimes or misdemeanours required to be tried by* jury. Such offences should be dealt with by a Judge, and, if possible, by a Justice of the High Court, sitting in original and summary jurisdiction,-' and dealing with each case ,as promptly and inexpensively as possible. The committee recommends legislation to provide that persons printing, publishing, or uttering any false, malicious, or defamatory statement calculated to bring the Senate or the House of Re* presentatives or members of the same or committees into hatred, contempt, or ridicule, or attempting to improperly interfere with or unduly influence or obstructing or assaulting or bribing or attempting to bribe members in discharge of their duties shall be deemed guilty of a breach of privilege or con« tempt and be liable to be prosecuted ; and that the only defence available shalk be justification or proof of the truth oi the statements ; and that upon the k Judge finding the complaints proved, he may. impose a -fine not exceeding £500, or imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, and may also order accused to pay costs.,