241

ANALYSIS.

1. Persons refusing to obey Speaker liable to a
   penalty.
2. Powers of the two Houses of the General
   Assembly to compel attendance to give
   evidence.
3. Power of Provincial Councils to compel at-
   tendance of persons to give evidence, &c.
4. Persons refusing or neglecting to obey warrant
   liable to penalty.
5. Nothing in these provisions to apply to
   officers of army or navy.
6. Members or persons giving evidence & officers
   of Government not liable to actions for
   libel.
7. Act to be deemed in force from proclamation
   of Constitution Act.
8. Proceedings criminal or civil against persons
   for publication of reports, &c., by order of

any Legislative body to be stayed upon pro-
duction of a certificate, verified by affida-
vit, to the effect that such publication is
by order of such Legislative Body
9. Any such proceedings to be stayed when
commenced or prosecuted in respect of
a copy of any report, &c., verified by affi-
davit.
10. In proceedings for printing an extract or
abstract of any such report, if shown that
such extract or abstract was bona fide
made, defendant entitled to verdict of not
guilty.
11. Exemption from serving on juries and atten-
dance as a witness or juror during session.
12. Act not to affect privileges of any Legisla-
tive Body or other persons.
13. Interpretation of words "Governor," "Le-
gislative Body," &c.
14. Short title.

AN ACT to declare certain privileges of Legislative Bodies and Officers of Title,
the Government of the Colony and Provinces of New Zealand,
to confer certain powers on the said Legislative Bodies, and to give protec-
tion to persons employed in the publication of papers under the authority of
the same.

(Assented to 14th August, 1856.)

WHEREAS it is essential to the due and effectual exercise and discharge Preamble.
of the duties and functions of the several Legislative Bodies in the
Colony of New Zealand, and of the Officers of the Government of
the said Colony and of the several Provinces thereof, that certain of the pri-
vileges, immunities, and powers of the said Legislative Bodies and of the said
Officers should be defined and declared by Legislative enactment. And
whereas it is also essential for the objects aforesaid that certain powers should
be conferred on the said Legislative Bodies, and that no obstruction or im-
pediment should exist to the publication of such of the reports, papers, votes,
and proceedings of the said Legislative Bodies as they shall respectively
deem fit or necessary to be published.

BE IT THEREFORE DECLARED AND ENACTED by the General Assembly
of New Zealand as follows:-

1. The Speaker of any such Legislative Body, acting under a Persons refusing to
   standing or special order of the Legislative Body over which he obey Speaker liable to
   presides, hath, and hereafter shall have power to direct all such a penalty.
   proceedings as he may consider essential to the maintenance of order
   within such Legislative Body during the sittings thereof, and if any
   person, whether a member of such Legislative Body or not, being within
   the place of assembling of any such Legislative Body, shall refuse or neglect
   to obey the order of the Speaker, or shall otherwise wilfully disturb the said
   Legislative Body, he may by warrant of the Speaker be forthwith committed
   to the custody of the Sergeant at Arms or other officer of such Legislative
   Body who may be appointed in that behalf, and such person so offending
   shall be liable to pay such penalty not exceeding twenty pounds, as shall
   be imposed by such Legislative Body, and in default of payment thereof shall
   be liable to be imprisoned in some common gaol or other convenient place
   to be named by the Speaker, for any period not exceeding one month, to be
   fixed by such Legislative Body, or until such fine shall be paid.

2. The two Houses of the General Assembly shall severally have Powers of the two
   power, by the Warrant of the Speakers thereof respectively, Houses of the Gene-
   to require all persons whomsoever, except the Governor, to attend ral Assembly to com-
   such House or any Committee of the same for the purpose of giving evidence, pel attendance to give
   evidence.