FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1938, Page 6

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE & OUTSIDERS. PRIME MINISTER’S VIEW. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “Freedom of speech in the House is one of the oldest and most hard-won of the liberties of members, and has always been recognised as a bulwark against the growth of abuses,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in reply to a question asked by Mr V/. J. Polson (Opposition, Stratford) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Polson had asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the wide publicity given over the air to Parliamentary debates, he would consider an amendment of the Standing Orders or an alteration of the law of libel so as to protect persons from being subjected to defamatory or slanderous criticism of their conduct and reputation, when those persons had an opportunity of replying over the air? Mr Savage said he thought members would agree that it would be undesirable to restrict the freest use of the privileges of freedom of speech when occasion demanded. “Our present rules of debate,” the Prime Minister continued, “give the House power to intervene, if desired, to protect persons outside from unjustifiable attack. It may be desirable to consider this matter when the Standing Orders are under review. There are several matters which are awaiting consideration, but it is unlikely that an opportunity will be found this session.”