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Newspaper Libel Limitation.

[Hon. Mr. J. Mckenzie.]

A Bill intituled an Act to amend the law relating to libel.

Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follow:—

1. The short title of this Act is the Newspaper Libel Limitation Act, 1894.

2. "Article" means any printed matter (other than letters) appearing in any newspaper, and containing any comment, direct or indirect, on the public affairs of the Colony, or on the acts or conduct of any person in the Colony.

"Newspaper" means a newspaper as defined in the Printers and Newspapers Registration Act, 1868.

3. In so far as concerns the proprietor, editor, printer, or publisher of a newspaper, any article or letter published therein is privileged, if such article or letter be published without malice, and discloses in print at its foot the true and full name and address of its writer. But nothing contained in this section shall be construed to in any way protect such writer, even though he be such proprietor, editor, printer, or publisher as aforesaid.

4. If in any newspaper there be published any article or letter which does not disclose in print at its foot the true and full name and address of its writer, the proprietor, editor, printer, and publisher of such newspaper are severally liable to a penalty of not less than five nor more than fifty pounds, to be recovered in a summary way before a Stipendiary Magistrate.

5. No penalty inflicted or suffered under this Act is in any way an answer or a bar (whether by way of mitigation or otherwise) to any civil or criminal proceedings against any person whomsoever for libel.

6. In any civil or criminal proceedings for libel against the proprietor, editor, printer, or publisher of any newspaper, or against the writer of the alleged libellous matter published therein, the fact that such matter is contained in an article or letter which does not disclose in print at its foot the true and full name and address of its writer is evidence of express malice.