The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1894. A TRULY LIBERAL BILL.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 91, 11 October 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1894. A TRULY LIBERAL BILL.

A measure has been presented to the New South Wales Parliament which should meet the approval of all members of the fourth estate in the colonies, although we fear it is of too liberal a character to find favor in the eyea of our legislators. The principle clauses of the Bill, which is entitled the Liber Ameadinent Bill, provide that the accurate reports of bona fide public meetings shall be privileged unless it is proved that the publication is malicious. The defendant will also be aUowed mitigation of damages if he shows that plaintiff has already brought an action for damages in respect of a similar libel. No criminal action can be taken without a judge's order. No order will be for technical libel which has been corrected and i apologised for. Defendant wiil have the right to apply to a judge for , security of costs before an action is begun. It is unmistakably founded on the lines of the English law on the subject, which is the product of the wisest and most experienced jurists in ' the world. A somewhat similar Bill was attempted to be passed by the , New Zealaud Parliament last session . —but it was talked out and slaughtered because it was based on common , sense and justice, and would have ' protected tbe press from " speculative actions " for libel.