LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2977, 13 August 1891, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

TUESDAY. The Council met at half-?ast two. A motion for tho third reading of the Truck Bill was adjourned till the other Labour Bills wero returned from the Select Committed. r ... The Auctioneers Bill was considered in Committee. Tho only amendment made of any consequenco was 0110 suggested by Mr Shrimski, favouring local bodies. The Bill was reported as amended, and ordered to be read a third time next day. WEDNESDAY. The Council mot at 2.80 p.m. The Libel Bill was considered in committeo. Mr Wilson took strong objection to Clause 10, which makes it imperative upon the ulaintilf to give security for defendant's costs to an amount not exceeding £2->. He thought it was gross oppression to compel poor people to find sureties when they considered they were libelled by, perhaps, wealthy newspaper proprietors. The Attorney-General remarked that a Select Committee had carefully considered this clause, and had arrived at the conclusion that it was a most reasonable protection to newspaper proprietors. Mr J. B. Whyte opposed the elauso, as it conferred too much license, not liberty, 011 a certain seotion of the press.

Mr Bowen did not see that any exception could be taken to the clause. Mr Pharazyn pointed out that if the drastic imjiosition were to be continued against newspapers', resjiectable journals would withdraw their ca|)ital, and the nowspaper field would be left in the hands of scurrilous "and impecunious scribbleis.

Mr Millar characterised tho nuws|>apor lire.ss of the present day as disgraceful to human nature. Hon. members as well as himself knew quite well that no public man's character was safe at the hands of tho press. It was the public and not the jjress in his ojiiniou who should receive protection from the legislature. Mr Reynolds supported the Bill, which he thought would go in the direction of protecting the public as well as tho press. An amendment to the clause was rejected by 23 to 2, and the clause as printed was agreed to. Other amendments made in the Bill were of a trivial character and jirogress was reported, and the Council roso at 4 p.m.