1.—7

1901. NEW ZEALAND.

PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE. (REPORT, ON THE PUBLICATION IN THE DUNEDIN EVENING STAR OF CERTAIN EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFORE THE GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.)

Brought up 6th September, 1901, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 28th Day of August, 1901. Ordered, " That a Committee of Privilege be appointed to inquire into and report on the matter of the publication in the Dunedin Evening Star newspaper of the 23cd day of August instant of certain evidence taken before the Goldfiilds and Mines Committee of this House ; three to be a quorum ; with power to call for persons and papers: the Commitcee to oonsist of Mr. Speaker, Hon. Major Steward, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Pirani, and the mover." (Hon Sir J. G. Waed.)

Fbiday, the 30th Day of August, 1901. Ordered, " That the question of the publication of further evidenoe of the Goldfields and Mines Committee in the Dunedin Evening Star on the 27th instant be referred to the Privileges Committee appointed on the 28th instant for consideration and report."—(Hon. Mr. McGowan.)

EEPOET.

1. Youb Committee have the honour to report that they have inquired into the matter remitted to them by the order of reference of the 28th day of August, 1901, in regard to the publication in the Dunedin Evening Star on the 23rd day of August of certain evidence given on the 15th day of August before the Goldfields and Mines Committee of the House of Representatives; and also into the matter remitted to them by the order of reference of the 30th day of August, 1901, in regard to the publication in the issue of the same newspaper of the 27th day of August of certain further evidence given before the same Committee on the 22nd day of August. 2. A considerable amount of evidence has been taken. 3. Mr. Albert Elias Cohen, representative in the Press Gallery of the Evening Star, admitted before your Committee that he forwarded in both instances to the said newspaper the evidence the publication of which is complained of. He stated before the Committee that " the evidence was obtained in a thoroughly honourable manner, and that no amount of pressure would induce or compel him to state the source of his information," adding, however, that he had not obtained it from the Clerk of the Goldfields and Mines Committee, nor from the shorthand reporter, but that " the report had got into his hands." 4. Your Committee beg to report that in consequence of this refusal they are unable to state by whom the evidence was communicated to Mr. Cohen, and, in accordance with precedent, they now inform the House of the fact that a witness—namely, the said Albert Elias Cohen—is in possession of material evidence which he has declined to disclose to your Committee. 5. The publisher of the Evening Star, Mr. John George Moody, appeared before your Committee. He admitted the publication in that newspaper of the evidence on the dates above stated, but said that, as such publisher, he had no knowledge of the contents of the newspaper prior to publication. He, however, pleaded that the publication of the matter in question was in the public interest. 6. Under these circumstances, your Committee submit that the House should now determine as to what steps should be taken in regard to the above matters. 6th September, 1901. Wm. J. Steward, Chairman, I—l. 7,