HA18
Immunity from legal pro- ceedings.
Evidence of proceedings before Council or committee of whole 'Council not
admissible except with consent of Governor.
Protection of persons respon- sible for publications authorised by the Council.
Protection of persons pub- lishing the
whole of or extracts of proceedings without malice
"member" means a member of the Council and includes the Governor and an ex offico mem-. ber and a temporary member.
3. No civil or criminal proceedings may be insti- tuted against any member for words spoken before the Council or a committee of the whole Council or by reason of any matter or thing brought by him before the Council or a Committee of the whole Council by petition, bill, question, motion or otherwise.
4. No evidence relating to any of the following matters, that is to say-
(a) debates or proceedings in the Council or a
committee of the whole Council;
(b) the contents of any document laid before the Council or a committee of the whole Council, or any proceeding of or before the Council or a Committee of the whole Council, shall be admissible in any proceedings before a court or person authorised by law to take evidence unless the court or such person is satisfied that permission has been given by the Governor for such evidence to be given.
5. Any person, being a defendant in any civil or criminal proceedings instituted for or on account or in respect of the publication by such person or by his ser- vant, by order or under the authority of the Council, of any report, paper, minute, votes or proceedings, may, on giving to the plaintiff or prosecutor (as the case may be) twenty-four hours written notice of his intention, bring before the court in which such civil or criminal proceedings are being held a certificate under the hand of the Governor, or of the Clerk of Councils, stating that the report, paper, minute, votes or proceedings in respect whereof such civil or criminal proceedings have been instituted was published by such person or his servant by order or under the authority of the Council together with an affidavit verifying such certificate and such court shall thereupon immediately stay such civil or criminal proceeding and the same and every process issued therein shall be deemed to be finally determined.
6. In any civil or criminal proceedings instituted for publishing the whole of or any extract from or ab- stract of any report, paper, minute, votes or proceed- ings published by or under the authority of the Coun- cil, if the court or jury, as the case may be, is satisfied