Mr. Hutchiusou's new Libel Bill, which passed its second. reading
on Wednesday, was formally accepted by the Attorney. General, and seems likely to pass. It extends the defence of privilege to all reports of public meetings, forbids a criminal action for libel without the consent of the Attorney-General, and compels the publishers of any newspaper to register the proprietors' names. Tho Bill is considered moderate, but we should much rather see it reduced to the single clause requiring the fiat of the Attorney-General. There is nothing gained by revealing proprietors' names, as a man can control a newspaper through a mortgage, and we can see no reason why reports of meetings should not be decently edited. The true grievance is the law which compels a Magistrate to issue a warrant on accusation of libel, even though he knows the jury will acquit, and this will be prevented by interposing the Attorney-General. In Scotland there is no criminal action for libel, but then Scotehmen have a special dislike to paying damages.
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