BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1871, 28 September 1906, Page 3

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

THE HOUSE AND THE PRESS. PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, Sept. 26. The Premier at an early stage on Wednesday (before the notices ol motions) moved in accordance with his promise of the previous day that . (1) a breach of privilege has been committed by the New Zealand T imes and other journals in divulging the proceedings of the Lands Committee, and that no further action be taken ; (2) that the whole question of reporting the proceedings of committees or otherwise be referred to the Standing Orders Committee for a report. He pointed out that on former occasions all attempts to follow up the breaches of the Standing Orders had ended in farce and failure. The Committee named would place the matter on a definite footing and give satisfaction to the House and the public. M r Massey thought the first part of the motion ought to be struck out, as the breach of the Standing Orders ought to be punished as it has been before. The Premier agreed to drop that part of his motion. Mr Fisher pointed out that the passing of the resolution meant full permission to the press to report the proceedings of all the committees of the House.

Mr Alien said that as the first part of the resolution had been struck out the press could be prosecuted for breaches of Standing Orders. Mr Lewis said that since the press departed from the old rule of honor those playing the game have been losers. He thought au inscription on the door of the press gallery, “For gentlemen only,” would meet the case by excluding objectionable men. Failing that he would fall back on the Standing Orders. Mr Tanner deplored the fact that tho House had not tho courage to make up its mind one wa7 or the other, and admitted that he did not care to make any suggestions himself, except that the House should make up its mind.

Mr T. Mackenzie was in favor of admitting tho press to most of the committees.

Mr Hogg regarded the Standing Orders which preclude the press from getting necessary information were antiquated and required amending carefully. The committees on the one hand ought not to be star chambers, and on the other the press, getting the information, were bound to make use of it. The present system strained at

gnats and swallowed camels. It made mountains out of molehills, but the plain fact was that the more light there was thrown on the business of Parl:ament and its committees the better. The Hon. Hall Jones thought the whole matter had arisen through members themselves, f >r the information had been given by members of the House. The press wore looking for news, and wero right to take whatever was offered to them. If tho culprits could be discovered who had given the information he would be for

treating them in a way that would prevent a recurrence of such betrayals for many years. Mr Laurenson- and Mr Baume favored public action. Mr Wilford suggested that in the case of policy measures the proceedings of the committees ought to be open to the press, but that in the other cases which chiefly concerned personal matters they should not. He hoped the House would settle the question on those lines. Mr Hanan uould like to see the empty formalities of the Standing

Orders sot aside iu favor of business lines. Publicity ought to be grantod to those committees, and iu that caso a very salutory prominence would bo givon to committee work. Mr li MuKonzio thought it would

bo promutuvo to got tho pross into tho committoos. In tho committoos tho shape of measures was changing. In tho lator stagos tho pross was prosont aud could got ovory information, 110 appealed to tho .House if experience did not prove that publicity lod to much waste of timo, vide Hansard aud tho result of full gallorios. Ho would ask if anyone had over suggostod that reporters should bo prosont at Cabinet meetings.

Tho Hon. T. Y. Duncan agrood with tho last speaker. For example, Government wanted to get tho Land Bill through this session, but if tho press wore admitted they would not have a hope. Tho pross, moroover, would color the reports of these committees

us they usually did all tho roports of

tho proceedings of tho House. Mr Flatinan agrood with those views ontirely. Furthermore, ho pointod out that if tho press wero admitted to those committoos others would como, too, and all concerned would bo half suffocated in tho small committee rooms. He would not for one submit to such deprivations of his comfort. He suggested giving tho press a precis of proceedings Tho Hon. tho Premier mentioned several previous cases iu which nothing but farce had rosultod from attempts to follow matters up by punishing tho press. For that reason ho had pro-

posed to declare that no action be taken. He contended that the best course would be to leave the matter to the Standing Orders Committee to dis-

tinguish between the things it was desirable to publish and the things it was desirable to keep secret, and to provide a specific penalty for breaches of the consequent rule. That would be a better method than the ancient prat" too which resulted invariably in ..cal failure. The resolution, the second part of the original, was agreed to on tho voices.

HONORABLE MEN.

PRESS ASSOCIATION

Wellington, last night. When the Houso of Representative) met this afternoon, Mr J. Allen read the procedure on tho privilege case of 1903 (Lyttelton Times), and give notioa to ask the Premier if ho was aware of the same whoa he undo bis remarks yesioi'day. Tno Premier gave noiioe to ask Mr Allen if he hid noted yestorday that the above procedure ought not to be followed on the present occasion. Mr Greuuelade asked tho Promier without notion if ho agreed with the sentiments expressed on the provious day by Mr Lewis respiting tho press gallery. The Premier said he did not agree with them at all. His personal experience of the gentlemen of tho press gallery was that they were highly honorable men. He had never had any other.