PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1921, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) LIBEL LAW. WELLINGTON, Sept. 28 The promised amciidinciit to the law of libel was introduced in the Council this a I Icriiouii. Tlm elleet is to abolish the offence of criminal defamation, as contained in section 2,‘ili of the Crimes Act, ItKIS, and to amplify and extend the (lasses of matter to he toga riled as privileged bu the purposes of publication, There arc ten subsections defining the tilings, to be regarded as privileged if limy are fair and accurate reports of:-- 1) Proceedings ni either House of Parliament or any committee of either: 2) copy ol onl l act Irom or ahsiract ol any paper published by order ol or under tlm si il thoi it y of-eillc’i' House: J) any ropm i I'elming 111 inatiers ot puldie rancol'll issued In ally (iovei iililuill Dcparlnmnl or ollieer ol stale; (I) protceilings of any Court of Justice unless the publication of tlm mailer lias been proscribed bv eouri. or unless it is lihi.-phclltour. or nb'icn:'; procccdings ol any impiiry bold under any act or I,\ alii borii.y ot t.'overnor Geueial in l. oinmil, or a copy ol oi accurate abstract, or e.xliaet ol the report of such impiir.v; '!) acts and proceedings ot lbe executive government. any dcpai 1 mein in iiiTmci' ilmreot il anil, o, i- d or requested bx tlm M inister : 7i ja ce; , 'dings ol' any local ant liority.

bully 111 trustees constituted amlcr any net nr piiiyiimiiil mdiiiiincc nu the discharge nl public functions |'ar ns mnl lei's lire ui pllblie euiicern : ‘SI prucimdiiigs ul ; 1 11v meeting nl eieditui s ' eld under ihchiw relittiug in liniikinplev: I'd proceedings ul ally meeting ~f slini'i'liulders ui' debenture huldcrs ul

;i bank ui public iiiinptiiiy Ml f.ir'as tlm rep!, | t |,'lnti'S lu limttel's ul public enll(II II : (in, ;| fair und neeiinile i eport pulilisli.'d in tiny newspaper ul pioi e 'dings uf any public nu cling, sn Ini as i be matter pubiislmJ telnies lu luu!icrs uf public concern. Tlie term “pllblie meeting" means him meeting law lulls Imld lor ;i luwMi! purpose and fur tbe lurtlmrame and discussion ol ant mat lor id pllblie eulieei II or for tlm advoi ;o \ of llm I'lindidatme of aiiv person tor a public nfiiee whether tlm admission therein is general nr rest rifted.

|{ El’Ll FS TO t,il FSTIONS. WELLINGTON. Kepi. 2' Aliiiisiers to-day aiisweied a niimber uf questions placed on the nrimi paper b\ members. Tiie Miuislui lor Land' iudieiiteil lb" nu ux'in ral reva lualinn ot -uldn is bolding' was proposed. Even rn-.e n | Imrd'bip was i-.msidered cm its meiits. I and 1 im Land I’.uards bad power lu neiiiiimciiil the |i"'i in or reiinssitiii uf rent. 1 Tin- Actim* l*tittu* .Miut>ier stittcd mi / a mend incut lu the War l‘ 'i.'im.s A. ' was under cniisidernti-m. The puymciil of a pension to I !m blind was under very r'lhms eotisidetut i«m. IN EM I'I.UV.M I! a I' I > Eli ATE. There tvns :i ;;ener:d discussion on the itnemploynnml (|iie ';ioii in l he n.llise. Several questions 1,11 tlm sub jeel tbe older paper and H e A e l i II", lYilllo M illi.-ler '.taied HI lepl.N I'luit Govei lilimnt linil already dealt with tlie ddliciilt, as far as llm limuues weald permit. Ouvel llllmllt looked to local authorities in their tespeet ive ifis'vriei , to make siicb fat 1 Imr provision as was imiossury. He eoiisidcied that inmmplux nmiil should dllillllisli no.v 1 1 1:1 1 the winter se:i>oii wig hvi'H Some members on llm Opposition and Labour benches protested Hint ment w as not doing enough. 'I lie dori pine of tlm right m woik with grants a' the altei n.it ive. was voiced by several speakers. MINISTER OF I * C Bl.lt WORKS. Tlie Minister for Fubiie Works said the Government had been accused dismissing men fiuiu publie works and of delilmralelv at tempting b'rcidown wages. ' Until these ebarges were inac,urate. Tlm men employed I" pllblie works laid collliinmd to receive lbs a dav. A lower rate bad been paid on relief work, which bail been established sole!v I'm llm nurpo.se ot I ■- lievill"' the' ime.ls of men w be. could not liuil work through tlm ordinary channi ls M.miv of tjio Hit'll "il the reit. I unrks ti's :i innUei of Inel. wrlf eaiiii„g I is and bus a day on contracts. Tlm expenditure of the Depm t nmnl spread over a year, wat at l!m rate ~| L'.’tn.lllK) per ill Ol I'Jjibb.DUb II VI „ M . .| lar-er total than at any other peiio’d'in tlm history of tlm roiintry Ministers bad done tlmir best to meet the position. Tims realised that it was the tint v of tlm Government to do its host to' relieve distress and save unemployment. It was the duty ol the local bodies and indn idiials to assist loe.il bullies. LOANS ACT BILL. 'ike Loan AH Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Represent al l ves 10-ilav, eon t a ill.- some provisions ul importance. Tlm principal act pt'-vnlos tli’il in rttses where jutthniily ts Jiteen i,v the ratepayers for ,1m raising ol t moimv for any particular purpose, the

authority will lapse if the money is not raised within two years. The Bill extends the terms to live years and provides that the extension shall apply to loans that have been already authorised by ratepayers, if the authority has nut yet lapsed. Other clauses provide facilities lor local bodies, [tending the raising of mi.v special loan, to borrow any sum ol money not exceeding the total sum authorised, by hypothecating or mortgaging the debentures authorised to he issuetL The rate of interest that may lie paid to a lending institution undei this heading is to he increased to 7 per rent.