PRESS CONFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13422, 21 October 1907, Page 5

PRESS CONFERENCE.

a social ivvenixg. ' NEW LEGISLATION I FORESHADOWED. Press Aasociation-By Telegraph-Copyright Received 5 p.m., October 20th. SYDNEY, .October 19. The Avt-tralasia. Press Confert nee concluded with a- gathering of 300 journalistr*. Among the guests were the Premier (Mr Wade), the Minister of Public Instruction (Mr Hogue), and Mr .Henniker Heaton. It. was Mr Wade's first l>nbli« function, and he marked it by promising an early alteration of the libel" law. He xaid that aw a practitioner in the Courts of the Stale, he had been struck with the •marked disability from which the. whole Press isunered owing to the State's pre. sent law. He had heard' Judges point) to tlip unfairness of the condition* in this matter. A man might, in all good faith insert .statements in his. paper obtained perhaps fiom a. public meeting which brought him within the Defamation Act, with the- result, that matters of public interest, were printed at the' riek and expense of the editor. Side by side with this came attacks by people who .had' no character and nothing, to lose, who; attacked a newspaper against 'which they had a grudge. Such a condition of affairs did not occur in Britain, 'and an alteration should be required in justice arid to keep abreast, of the times. > While providing against the press becoming the victims : of unscrupulous persona, the public were, entitled to protection froin those who had the power to spread slanders' broadcast. A limit must be laid down, and no man allowed .license with regard, to falsehoods; Early next year the Government; programme would contain a .measure to give the press the uecexsary relief. As' io cerisoi&hip of the press, it was not needed. The best censorsliip • of the. press wa,s their own good Sooner or later three papers which abused their, privileges by making unfair comments or drawing unreasonable deductions, would be relegated to .'the. ■ position of the papers which published articles that could not be re]ied. itpoiv.-• ■'-- ~ ■'-•'•<■'