SECOND READING.—DEBATE RESUMED. (Hansard, 1 July 1859)

SIR GEORGE LEWIS

said, as there was really no principle involved in the Bill, he was not prepared to oppose its passing through that stage. The measure proposed to deal with various fragments of 557 Acts of Parliament which regulated publications of various descriptions, including newspapers. Whilst assenting to the second reading, he, however, wished it to be understood that he reserved to himself full power and liberty of discussion of any of the particular Enactments recited in the Bill, and which it was proposed to repeal. There was one important Enactment which the measure proposed to repeal—namely, that regarding the registration of proprietors of newspapers. Now, that was a question which affected not principally the public or the Government, but private individuals who might be the subjects of libellous attacks in newspapers. If the protection which the present law provided, in respect to a legal remedy were withdrawn, it was possible that those individuals might be placed in a disadvantageous position. That, however, was a question upon which he did not wish at present to express any opinion, but rather to reserve himself for further discussion in Committee. There were two other Acts recited in the Bill, and which he thought must have found their way into it by mistake. One was an Act to indemnify certain persons in respect to penalties incurred under previous Enactments not now in force. The repeal of that Act could not have any advantageous result. The other Act was one repealing the punishment of banishment for the commission of the second offence of libel. Now, if that Act were repealed the effect would be to increase the severity of the criminal law in regard to libel, for which he was not aware that there was any necessity. As he had already stated, he would assent to the second reading, upon the understanding, however, that all those details should be fully considered in Committee.