COURT ACCOMMODATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 156, 3 July 1888, Page 5

COURT ACCOMMODATION.

It is a singular facb that a large city like Auckland should be so badly provided at the Police Court. Attention has frequently been drawn to the matber before, bub without any beneficial resulb. Ladies who are summoned as wibnesses are compelled either to sit in Court, and listen to the lilbhy language which is bub boo frequently repeabed in the wibness box, or else bo walk up and down the passages outside. An instance of bhis occurred yesberday. Two ladies were kepb waibing bhe greaber part of bhe day in order bo give evidence for the Crown in a case that did not come up for hearing until two p.m. Of course bhe wibnesses were ordered out of Court, and Constable McLennnn, wibh his usual courtesy, provided them with chair 3in the room occupied by the Clerk of the Court. Presenbly, however, Mr Stoney came into the Court and requested that they should be removed. Sergeant Gamble menbioned bhe mabber bo the Bench as there was no obher place in which bhey could waib. Mr Baddeley commented upon bhe fact that the Court was badly provided in many respects. He said, "Wo have done our besb bo geb somebhiug done in this Court, but without effect." Sergeant Gamble said that years ago bhe room now occupied by Mr S. Y. Coilins, Registrar of Votes, was used for witnesses, but now there was absolutely no accommodation. His Worship regretted that such should be the case, but said of course it wa3 quibe impossible for ladies to be allowed to remain in the Clerk's room, and accordingly the witnesses were compelled to walk up and down the corridor until about 4.30. Had they been prisoners instead of innocent persons they would have been provided with seats in a little room at the rear of the dock. Surely this is wrong, and the Government should be able to provide sitting room for Crown witnesses. What with frequent remands, bad accommodation, and deficient acoustic properties the average citizen would as soon lose an article as iay an information against a thief wibh bhe possibiliby of dancing abbendance ab the Auckland Police Courb.