2098 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 of
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finally put an end to , determined and superseded by virtue of this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 .
In proceed 13. It shall be lawful in any civil or criminal proceeding to be com
ings for
printing any menced or prosecuted for printing any extract from or abstract of such
extract or
abstract of a report, paper, votes, or proceedings , to give in evidence under the general
paper it may
be shown such issue in criminal cases, and in civil cases in support of any allegation in
extract was
bona fide defence, such report, paper, votes , or proceedings, and to show that such
made.
[3 and 4 V. extract or abstract was published bonâ fide and without malice ; and if
c. 9, s. 3. ]
such shall be the opinion of the jury, a verdict of not guilty shall be
entered for the defendant:
Newspaper Libels .
Newspaper 14. Any report published in any newspaper of the proceedings of a
reports of
certain public meeting shall be privileged , if such meeting was lawfully convened
meetings
privileged. for a lawful purpose and open to the public, and if such report was fair
[41 and 45
V. c. 60, s. 2. ] 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 avail
able 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 prosecu 15. No criminal prosecution shall be commenced before a Court of
tion for
newspaper Summary Jurisdiction against any proprietor, publisher, editor, or any
libel without
fiat of person responsible for the publication of a newspaper for any libel
Attorney
General. published therein, without the written fiat or allowance of the Attorney
[44 and 45
V. c. 60, s. 3. ] General being first had and obtained .
Ex-officio 16. Nothing in this Ordinance shall apply to ex- officio informations
informations
not to be filed by the Attorney General nor to informations by the Registrar of
affected.
the Supreme Court by the direction of the Court at the instance of some
drivate individual .