MUZZLING THE PRESS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 517, 11 October 1890, Page 2

MUZZLING THE PRESS.

A telegram from Woodville is to the following effect : — Notice of process in the Supreme Court, at the instance of Joseph Sowry, wasßi-rved to day on Mr E. A. Hagggn, proprietor of he Examiner, for republishing extracts from Parliamentary papers on duulmyismin • onnection with the inquiry held last session by the Waste Lands Committee. 'The case is to be heard on Tuesday, at Wellington, in Chambers. Mr Gully is retained for the defence. Intense interest is displayed in the matter here, and the public have offered to pay any costs Mr Haggen may be put to in defending the hitherto recognised privilege of the Press to publish extracts fmm Parliamentary papers.

The interest in the case will certainly not be confined to Woodville. As the matter stands it would not be wise to write just what we think on the subject. Were we to do so, it would not be at all complimentary to those who are prosecuting Mr Haggen. The Examiner has been doing a great public service, and our sympathies are entirely with the proprietor. It is very pleasing to note the public spirit of the Woodville people in this matter, and while there is such loyalty to the cause of liberty, there is not much fear of a retrogression to the state of things that existed in Milton’s lifetime. The Pressmen themselves ought to take up this matter, and defray any expense to which Mr Haggen may be put in connection with the prosecution. It may possibly do much good, besides being a lesson to those who are involving, Mr Haggen in legal expenses, because it will be a very strong illustration of what may be done under the existing libel laws..