THE COMING SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1916, Page 4

THE COMING SESSION.

FREEDOM OF DEBATE NEWSPAPERS' PERPLEXITY (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Muy 4. An important point in connection with the reporting of debates during the impending session of Parliament has been raised. The Crown law officer.] have ruled, in reply to an inquiry, that reports of the proceedings in Parliament must not cpntr&vene the \Var regulations. The newspapers, in other words, must not publish reports of statements made by Ministers and members if the statements disclose information of the kind banned by the censorship. Presumably the rule will apply also to Hunsard. ■ The range of the censor's prohibitions is very wide, and it is obvious that their interpretation by Parliamentary reporters in the course of debates will be likely to give occasion for a good deal of perplexity. Perhaps [.tho Government will give some further lead in the matter.

The war regulations, and the rules issued under them, must limit the freedom of debate to some extent during the present session. Ministers will not be free to answer questions or supply information on some of the pointß that the House of Representatives may wish to discuss. Members will find themselves confronted by a barrier due to the exigencies of the military situation. The Government doubtless will inform members confidentially on some of the matters that cannot be discussed publicly, but there is likely to be more restraint on the actual proceedings than Parllapunt Jiw ever experienced befax*