FEDERAL POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13608, 30 May 1908, Page 6

FEDERAL POLITICS

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS,

BEHAVIOUR OF MEMBERS.

Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright Received 10.55 p.m., May 29th. * MELBOURNE, May 29.

The Joint Select Committee of the Federal House on the procedure for the trial and punishment of persons charged with a breach of the powers, privileges, and immunities of either Chamber, has presented a. progress report.

The committee says that it does not propose to elevate breaches of privilege and contempt of Parliament to the liigb criminal grade of indictable crimes or misdemeanants, required to be tried by jury. Such offences should be dealt with by a Judge and if possible by the 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, publishuff or tittering any false, icalicidus or defamatory statement calcuated to bring- the Senate, or the House, or the members, or the committees, into hatred, contempt or ridicule; attempting to improperly interfere with or unduly influence, or obstruct or assault, or bribe or attempt to bribe, members in the discharge of their dulie.-. shall be deemed guilty of a breach of privilege and contempt, and be liable to be prosecuted; that the only defence available shall be justification, or proof of the truth of the statements. That upon a Judge finding the complaints proved, lie may impose a fine not exceeding £SOO, or imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, L and may also order the accused to par the costs. THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.

In ' Lhe House of Representatives Mr Deakin announced tliab a Royal Conimismission would be appointed to inquire into tli« condition of the Pc6tal 'Department. The cause of the complaints was the extraordinary and exceptional increa>-8 of business last yeak The increased expenditure of over £5C0,000 voted this year would be increased, by 18 per cent. .oauhl scij oi[ j t[oiij-u. oj pads