PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2204, 30 May 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.

BREACHES OF PRIVILEGE.

SELECT COMMITTEE’S REPORT

United Press Association—Copyright (Received May 29, 10.55 p.m.)

MELBOURNE. May 29

The joint select committee, of the Federal House to report on the procedure of persons charged with a breach of the powers and privileges of either Chamber presented a progress report. The-committee says it does not-pro-pose to elevate breaches of privilege and contempt of Parliament to a high criminal grade of indictable crimes or misdemeanants required to be tried by a jury. Such offences should bo dealt with by a judge and, if possible, by a Justice of the High Court sitting in original and summary jurisdiction, and dealing with each case as promptly and inexpensively as possible. The committee- recommends legislation to provide that persons printing, publishing or uttering any false, malicious or defamatory statement calculated to bring the Senate or the House "or the members or committees into hatred, contempt, or ridicule and attempting improperly to interfere with, or unduly influence or obstructing, assaulting, bribing, or attempting to bribe, members -in the discharge of tlieir duties shall be deemed guilty of a breach of privilege and any -attempt to belittle to be prosecuted; that the only defence available shall be justification or proof of truth of statements; that upon the judge finding the complaints to be proved he may impose a fine not exceeding £SOO or imprisonment not exceeding twelve months and may also order accused to pay costs.