DOMESTIC CASES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 238, 8 October 1935, Page 8

DOMESTIC CASES.

PRIVACY IN COURTS. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. » STAR CHAMBER» DANGER. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A renewal of their representations for greater privacy in domestic courts was made to the Minister of Justice (Mr. Cobbc) this morning by a deputation from the National Council of Women, consisting of Miss C. E. Kirk, national president. Mrs. M. 11. Chatfield, president of the Wellington branch, Mrs. N. Peryrnan and Mrs. M. J. Forde.

Miss Kirk mentioned instances of girls who had appeared in court being accosted after the hearing of a case. 111 one instance a girl had lost her position because an undersirable had gone to her home and asked for her. Lack of sufficient privacy worked against reconciliation. The Minister: Were these cases heard in open court? Miss Kirk: Yes. The evidence was not such as to have tin' Court' cleared. The Minister remarked that the magistrate could use Lis discretion. Miss Kirk said a good many women sat in Court during the hearing of domestic cases. The example of a separation order being granted was not a good one, as the incentive to make good was destroyed. Only friends of the persons concerned, legal representatives, social workers and newspapers should be admitted to the hearing. Mrs. Chatfield said it was with great regret that the council had noticed that the Minister had so definitely pronounced against women police. The Minister: Not against them. We have not concluded our investigations. Mrs. Chatfield: But they are shelved.] The Minister: For the time being.! Continuing, Mr. Cobbc said the matter had not been lost sight of. He had just < managed to get permission to increase tile police force bv 20 more men, and that had been a matter of some expense. "Something may lie done a little later," he said. "1 will shortly be going into the question again with the Commissioner of Police."

Concerning Court hearings, the Minister said it was a difficult question. It was a pity that so many disreputables should infest the Courts, and they were not confined to men. It was, however, reasonable in law that there should lie no privacy in Court and that there should be 110 Star Chamber methods. He thought the magistrates were fairly careful to exclude everyone not entitled to be present. They recognised the position and tried to do what they could. They had to be very careful what they did in this direction.