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the Bill be recommitted in regard to a very simple matter. It will be within the recollection of the Council that the hon. gentleman opposite addressed a question to me as to whether a magistrate would have power to deal summarily with the penal clause of the Bill. I expressed the opinion at that time, and I still adhere to it, that a magistrate would not have power to deal summarily with a prisoner. I did so having regard to Ordinance 3 of 1890, which enumerates in the schedule the list of offences excluded from summary jurisdiction, and mentions the printing or publishing of blasphemous, seditious or defamatory libels. This Bill is to prevent the publication of seditious matter, and when I gave the answer which I did to the hon. gentleman, I was of the opinion that it would be excluded from the summary jurisdiction of the magistrate, but it is just possible that other people may take a different view, that someone may construe the law differently to what I do, and as it is the desire of the Government that all these offences should not be dealt with summarily, I ask the permission of the Council to move the recommital of the Bill in order to insert the express words, providing that the offence shall only be dealt with by the Supreme Court.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL begged to move the following new clause: "No person shall be convicted of an offence against this Ordinance, except by the Supreme Court."
This was agreed to, and on Council resuming the Bill was read a third time, passed and became law.
HIS EXCELLENCY - Council stands adjourned until Thursday, 24th instant.