BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1926, Page 2

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

[Australia it N.Z. Cahla Association.] DIYORCK REPORTS. LONDON, April 16. The House of Commons reassembled at eleven o’clock this morning and devoted the sitting to a discussion on Air G. Al. Kindcrsley’s Judicial Proceedings (otherwise known as the Regulation of Reports) Bill. It provides that in the reports of divorce cases, only tlie names and addresses of the parties, together with a concise statement of tlie grounds, the submission of points of law, the judge’s summing up. the verdict, and the judge’s comments, shall lie publishabel in the press. Any infringement carries a penalty of £SOO and three months’ imprisonment. Air Kindersely (a Conservative) said that the bulk of tlie newspapers bad a sense* of duty, but some of them deliberately exploited unsavoury cases.

Sir Kllis Hume Williams, the King’s Counsel, moved tlio rejection of the Bill, lie said that the. present law was framed to protect the very people whom the Bill purported to befriend, and to prevent evils which the Bill now designed to slopT. Publicity, he said, was the greatest deterrent to easy access to the Divorce Court. This Bill would make access easier. If they were going to clean the public Augean Stable, why leave untouched the hooks and the plays that were dealing with sex matters. Sir Win. Joynson Hicks (Home Atiuister), said the newspaper owners had expressed the opinion that there was no via media between hearing the eases in camera, and letting things go as they went now. Personally, lie would never force all the cases to be heard in camera. He announced that Air Baldwin had paired in support of the Bill. The amendment was rejected, and Ibc Bill was read a second time by 222 to 3.