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LAW AND LIBEL AMENDMENT ACT 1888 - SECT 4

Newspaper reports of proceedings of public meetings and of certain bodies and persons privileged.

4. A fair and accurate report published in any newspaper of the proceedings of
a public meeting, or (except where neither the public nor any newspaper
reporter is admitted) of any meeting of a vestry, town council, school board,
board of guardians, board or local authority formed or constituted under the
provisions of any Act of Parliament or of any committee appointed by any of
the above-mentioned bodies, or of any meeting of any commissioners authorised
to act by letters patent, Act of Parliament warrant under the Royal Sign
Manual, or other lawful warrant or authority, select committees of either
House of Parliament, justices of the peace, in quarter sessions assembled for
administrative or deliberative purposes, and the publication at the request of
any Government office or department, officer of state, commissioner of police,
or chief constable of any notice or report issued by them for the information
of the public shall be privileged, unless it shall be proved that such report
or publication was published or made maliciously: Provided that nothing in
this section shall authorise the publication of any blasphemous or indecent
matter: Provided also, that the protection intended to be afforded by this
section shall not be available as a defence in any proceedings if it shall be
proved that the defendant has been requested to insert in the newspaper in
which the report or other publication complained of appeared a reasonable
letter or statement by way of contradiction or explanation of such report or
other publication, and has refused or neglected to insert the same: Provided
further, that nothing in this section contained shall be deemed or construed
to limit or abridge any privilege now by law existing, or to protect the
publication of any matter not of public concern and the publication of which
is not for the public benefit.

For the purposes of this section "public meeting" shall mean any meeting bona8
fide and lawfully held for a lawful purpose, and for the furtherance or
discussion of any matter of public concern, whether the admission thereto be
general or restricted.

© 1888 Crown Copyright

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