THE BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 September 1901, Page 3

THE BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

Mr Cohen's Explanation.

& Proposal and an Amendment.

(OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.)

Wellington, This Day. The Acting-Speaker read a letter from Albert B. Cohen with reference to the Dunedin " Star " breach of privilege case. He stated that the evidence given before the Mines Committee was published in public interest, and not with any desire of transgressing against the wishes of the House. He suggested that the meetings of select committees should be thrown open to the Press, or reports of the proceedings be supplied day by day. He had no desire to set the committee or Parliament at defiance. He regretted that his bona fide endeavour through the medium of his paper to assist in the prosecution of a searching enquiry into the matter of the greatest concern to the mining industry in Ofcago and the West Coast, had led bim to commit a breach of privilege, and he trusted the explanation given would be acoepted by the House. Seddon moved that the House accept as satisfactory the expression of regret given by Mr Cohen, and that the House resolves to proceed no further in the matter. Members, he said, had been in the habit of giving reporters information as to what went on before Committees. Nothing had been said about such information being published, and the publication of evidence in the case now before the House was merely the outcome of that state of things. Mr Cohen. had acted honorably throughout, and he (Seddon) believed it was in the interest of the public that the evidence in these dredging cases should nave been published. Jas Allen said the House looked to the Premier to defend its privileges, but he had not done so in this instance. He had changed front because of political expediency. Parliament was degrading itself by allowing its privileges to be flouted, and the standing orders set at nought. Fisher agreed with the view expressed by A'len, and moved as an amendment that the House having declared the publication of the evidence by the Dunedin Star a breach of privilege and Cohen having declined to disclose the source of his information, that he be fined £25 for each such refusal or £SO in all.

The debate was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment.