NEW BILL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1093, 29 June 1882, Page 2

NEW BILL.

The Libel Act, 1882, (Mr Tole). —It is proposed to amend the law effecting civil actions and criminal prosecutions for newspaper libel, and to make certain provisions in relation to contempt

of Court. It is, therefore, providGdjfl that any report published in auy paper of the proceedings of a publiJM meeting shall be privileged if meeting was lawfully convened for lawful purpose and open to the and if such report was fair and rate, anil published without and if the publication of the complained of was for the public efit. Provideil always that the tion intended to be afforded by section shall not be available if the plaintiff or prosecutor can show that the defendant has refused to insert in the newspaper in which the report containing the matter complained pf appeared a reasonable letter or statement of explanation or contradiction by or on behalf of such! plaintiff or prosecutor. 4. No criminal j tion shall be commenced against any n proprietor, publisher, editor, or any person responsible fur the publication of a newspaper for any libel published therein without the written nat or allowance of the Attorney-General for the time being of the colony being first had, and obtained. Further provisos are proposed to be enacted that any Court of summary jurisdiction may, if sueh Court is of opinion that a jury would acquit, at one -dismiss the case, - or if such case is trivial, and the *ccused consents, such Court may summarily convict. Power is proposed to be invested in any Judge of tho Supreme Court, or Court of Appeal, to inflict imprisonment'or fine for contempt of Court arising from libellous publication in a newspaper of libellous matter relating to such Courts.