PRESS CENSORSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1932, Page 18

PRESS CENSORSHIP

JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

DRASTIC POWERS IN BILL'

Drastic provisions censoring the publication :of evidence :iii divorce, separation, and other Court cases are contained in the Judicial Proceedings (lvcgulation of Eeports) Bill, which was introduced into the' House of Representatives yesterday.' The measure was read a. second time pro forma, and referred.to the Statutes Revision Committee. ■•....■■;.-. • - . ;

.'After-prohibiting) the publication, in relation to any judicial proceedings, of any indecent, matter or indecent, medical, surgical, or physiological details, the appearance of which; would be calculated to .injure public! morals, the Bill bans; in connection,with .divorce, sepa; ration,- restitution of conjugal rights, or affiliation; maintenance,, and guardianShip applications, the-publication of any particulars Vth'er than the following:—.

The names,: addresses, and occupa-tions-of the parties and witnesses and the names and description.of counsel; a concise-statement o£ the-charges, defences, and* counter-charges an-.support of which- evidence has been ; given; submissions.on any'point, of law-arising-in the course of .the proceedings, and the decision-, of -the' Court. ,on- it;; and: the summing .up of the :Judges the:finding of the;jury; the judgment of' the Court, and the judicial or magisterial observations in the...delivery of.the judgment. - ' •."'-.- ' ■'■''■"■ '•■-.• ' -..■■■' (,

The .Bill' prohibits' also' the. publication, without .consent,; of ' the photograph, drawing, caricature, or other representation of any person! who is a party to or witness: in judicial'proceedings. In-prosecutions for breaches the burden of proving. that the portrait i^as authorised will-rest -with defendant. .!

; Heavy ■ penalties - are prescribed for offencesi against: the 'provisions7of the legislation. For each offence the punishment will be a term of imprisonment up to two months, or alternatively a fine'; of,Tip:tO'£2so;; or to both.-.Theie is. a-.pro vision that'noi -other than a proprietor, manager, editor, subeditor, master,printe'r,-or ; publisher shall be .liable for conviction, and ; no prosecution, is to be-commenced^except by leave of the Attorney.General. Certain documents are exempt. The Bill is not to apply to the 'printing of pleadings, transcripts.; of ievidence, or other,-.documents; connected .with judicial proceedings, to. the publication of notices or, reports.issued at ' the Court>s direction, to law reports; or to' technical publications for: circulation among the legal or-medical ] rdfession. \ The .operation,of the Indecent Publications Act is-not'affected,,but-no .person will be convicted in respect of the' same offence under both Acts. Nothing in the Bill is to limit the provisions pc any.-.other enactment relative to'the prohibition or regulation of the publication of reports of judicial proceedings. The Bill j a described as a measure to regulate the publication of the reports of judicial proceedings in such a manner as to prevent injury to public morals. '.-.•■'.