JURORS' PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 187, 8 August 1919, Page 8

JURORS' PAY.

v AN INADEQUATE SCALE. ,: INCREASES ASKED FOR. '' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) A ffi ■ WELLINGTON, Thursday. '. 'A deputation representing jurors sumtaioned for the present session of the Supreme Court -waited on the Hon. T. M. .Wilford to-day, to urge an increase in the payment made to jurors. Mr. W. B. Gough said that jurors, if they were •discharged before 12 o'clock, received 4/ and. if required after that hour, S/. This ■was altogether inadequate for the important service Tendered. The Minister lad remedied many grievances, and they confidently appealed to him to put this jnatter right, if it was in hi 3 power. The Minister said that though he had from the floor of the House urged that an increase should be made, he had not lad the opportunity of putting the position effectively before his colleagues till he became Minister of Justice. The rate of pay for common jurors was fixed at S/ and A/ by statute, and no increase could be made until the Act was amended, as the Audit Department would not pass any payments-above- that authorised. But the rate -was 'fixed years and years ago, when 8/ was probably considered a fair day's pay. He had considered whether, in altering the rate a new- scale should be fixed by the Act, or whether provisioa should be made for a rate of pay to be determined from time to time by an Order-in-Council, •which would mean "that the Minister of Justice, with the approval of Cabinet, would have power to gazette new rates of pay if the cost of living , went higher. The old Act allowied nothing for locomotion expenses, train, boat, or coach fares, or horse hire in country districts. It seemed to him that it would be better to have a new Act repealing the old clauses, and fixing no new rate, but leaving it to be determined by Order-in-Council. A bill had been prepared and printed for introduction to Parliament this session, and had been approved by the Cabinet without alteration. In addition to a provision for the payment of jurors attending the Supreme "Court and coroners' inquests, the bill provided for the payment of actual locomotion expenses, including railway, coach, and steamboat fares, and such other expenses, according to a scale to be fixed. Everything asked for he had foreseen, and he did not think a member of the House would raise his voice against it. He fully agreed with what the deputation lad eaid. Common jurors had important, distasteful, and onerous duties to perform, and it was necessary that the State should secure the services of °- oo d men, who were satisfied and understood their responsibilities. Mr. Gough thanked the Minister for thjs satisfactory reply. ""*«* ior