2098
In proceedings for printing any extract or abstract of a paper it may be shown such extract was bonâ fide made.
[3 and 4 V. c. 9, s. 3.]
Newspaper reports of certain meetings privileged.
44 and 45 V. c. 60.
ORDINANCE No. 5 of 1887.
Defamation and Libel.
the correctness of such copy, and the Court or Judge shall immediately stay such civil or criminal proceeding; and the same, and every writ or process issued therein, shall be and shall be deemed and taken to be finally put an end to, determined and superseded by virtue of this Ordinance.
13. It shall be lawful in any civil or criminal proceeding to be commenced or prosecuted for printing any extract from or abstract of such report, paper, votes, or proceedings, to give in evidence under the general issue in criminal cases, and in civil cases in support of any allegation in defence, such report, paper, votes, or proceedings, and to show that such extract or abstract was published bonâ fide and without malice; and if such shall be the opinion of the jury, a verdict of not guilty shall be entered for the defendant.
Newspaper Libels.
14. Any report published in any newspaper of the proceedings of a public meeting shall be privileged, if such meeting was lawfully convened for a lawful purpose and open to the public, and if such report was fair and accurate and published without malice, and if the publication of the matter complained of was for the public benefit; provided always, that the protection intended to be afforded by this section shall not be available as a defence in any proceeding, if the plaintiff or prosecutor can show that the defendant has refused to insert in the newspaper in which the report containing the matter complained of appeared, a reasonable letter or statement or explanation or contradiction by or on behalf of such plaintiff or prosecutor.
No prosecution for newspaper libel without fiat of Attorney General. [44 and 45 V. c. 60, s. 3.]
Ex-officio informations not to be affected.
15. No criminal prosecution shall be commenced before a Court of Summary Jurisdiction against any proprietor, publisher, editor, or any person responsible for the publication of a newspaper for any libel published therein, without the written fiat or allowance of the Attorney General being first had and obtained.
16. Nothing in this Ordinance shall apply to ex-officio informations filed by the Attorney General nor to informations by the Registrar of the Supreme Court by the direction of the Court at the instance of some private individual.
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