LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 21 October 1907, Page 3

LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.

#EW SOI'TII WALLS LEGISLATION. PROPOSED IiKVISIOX OF THE LIDLL LAV.. Received Oct. lit, 5 p.m. Sydney, October 19. The Press Association conference concluded with a gathering of three hundred journalists. Among the guests were tho State Premier, Mr. Hague (Minister of Public Instruction), and Mr. J. Henniker-llcaton. M.P. It was ilr. Wade's first public function since his ai-tession to the Premiership, and he marked it by promising an early alteration of the "libel law. He Mid, as a practitioner in th» courts of the State, he had been struck with the marked disability which the whole Press suffered owing to the state of the present law. He had heard Judges point to the unfairness of the conditions in this matter. A man might, in all good faith, insert statements in his paper, I obtained perhaps from a public meeting, which brought him within the Defamation Act, with the result that matters of public interest were printed at the risk and expense of the editor. Side by side with this came attacks by people who had no character and nothing to lose, who attacked a newspaper against which they had some grudge. Such a condition of affairs did not occur in Britain, and aiTalteration should be required in justice, and to keep abreast of the times. While providing against the press becoming the victim of unscrupulous persons, the public were entitled to protection from those who had power to spread slanders broadcast. A limit must be laid down, and no man allowed a license with regard to falsehoods. Early next year the Government programme would contain a message to give the Press the necessary reb'ef. As to censorship of the Press, that was not needed. The best censorship of the Press was their own good taste. Sooner or later those papers which abused their privileges by making ( unfair comments or drawing unreasonable deductions would be relegated to the position of papers which published . articles that could not be relied upon.