THE PRIVILEGE CASE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 416, 28 August 1877, Page 2

THE PRIVILEGE CASE.

GEORGE JONES AT THE BAR. 0 [By Telegraph.] Wellington, August 28. Before Mr. George Jones was called upon to come to the Bar of the House, the ladies', strangers', and other galleries were crowded. When asked by the Speaker to make any statement he had to make in reference to the charge against him,

Mi'. Jones proceeded to read a written statement justifying the article complained of. The statement went to show that the article was written purely in the public interest, and without any malice against the Attorney-General. He said that having been a resident in Waikato for a lengthened period, he was well aware of the laud transactions of monopolists, to the injury of the interests of the public. He stated that he had always heard the name of the present AttorneyGeneral associated by common rumour with those of the land speculators. His a< tenth>n was directed to the subject of native lauds when the Attorney-General s Native Lands Bill was introduced. He was further continued in the correctness of his previous knowledge of the matter, by it being borne out by what he had learned from a gentleman lately from Waikato, and now resident in the South. He considered that the article in question was justified. He regretted if he had done anything not justiiied, and was prepared to accept the decision of the House on the matter.

Ml-. Jones having withdrawn, Mr. Whitaker said it was clear that either Mr. Jones should be in gaol or he (Mr. Whitaker) should not be where he was. He therefore moved that Mr. Jones be discharged, in order that he-might bring an action against him in the Supreme Court, where he would have an opportunity to substantiate his allegations.

A discussion on the matter was commenced by Mr. Ilislop, who moved that Mr. Jones bo discharged altogether. Mr. Joyce was opposed to removing the case from* that House to any other Court. The Attorney-General having brought the case before the House should not be allowed to stop t-li3 case and have it tried elsewhere. Why that would be pure tyranny, besides a discharge from before Parliament would defer an action elsewhere.

Mr. Gisborne thought the motion of the Attorney-General very satisfactory. Either the House should proceed by way of punishment, or order the AttorneyGeneral to prosecute the offender for a I. each of the law, because he in 110 way justified, nor had attempted to justify, the article. He would therefore move, when in order, that the Attorney-General be instructed to prosecute Mr. Jones in the ordinary course of law, for libel on a member of the House while in his place in Parliament (" hear, hear," and " no, no ").