THE COUNTRY'S TIME.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 3, 9 February 1914, Page 8

THE COUNTRY'S TIME.

SHOULD NOT BE WASTED. MB JUSTICE UENNXSTON'S REMARKS. THE GRAND JURY RETURNED "NO BILL." "It is open to question whether the time of the country should be wasted in » trying this case." > This remark made by his Honour Mr. Justice Deu~ niston in the course of his charge to the grand jury this morning, when he referred briefly to the case against Charles Ashwin, who was charged, with failing to keep proper books of account. His Honour proceeded to state- that of course there was a statutory duty cast on every person to keep proper - books, showing the true state of his business for some time previously. The accused Ashwin had not shown such books. It was admitted; however, that he had properly accounted for all hi a transactions, so that tfte result of hia bookkeeping had not been to defraud any person. That, however, was not sufficient, as a man was bound to keep proper books. however, waa only dealing Tpth one or two firms as agent, and his books seemed to have ibeen sufficient for his purposes. Cases " in which there was no fraud were only ; punished for the sake of the sxainpie; . so that every person would be warned jto keep proper books. In the ; absence [ of criminal intent the grand jury would [be justified in finding no bill. It was- | not necessary, in the interests of public I justice that accused should be dealt 1 with.- - V"