CORONERS' INQUESTS IN N.S.W.

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21510, 27 June 1935, Page 11

CORONERS' INQUESTS IN N.S.W.

AMENDMENT TO LAW I'KOI'OSED SYDNF2Y. .June 20. The State Minister for Justice (Mr L. O. Martin) proposes to make recommendations to the Cabinet for amendment ol' the law about coroners' inquests. Mr Martin .said that conditions today were so entirely different, from conditions prevailing when the present law was made lhat it was essential the law should be; overhauled to conform to conditions today. "I am doing that," Vie said, ''and I think the Government would be well advised to consider giving greater facilities to a coroner to proceed with an inquest when part 01. the body of a person whom the coroner is convinced is dead, is produced." IMr Justice Halse Rogers recently hold that the coroner could not proceed with the inquest on James Smith at Sydney because the exhibit produced, a"tattooed arm disgorged by a shark, could not be regarded as a body.J question never raised IN N.Z. STATEMENTS HY CHIJISTCHI'KCM LAWYERS No need has been felt in New Zealand for any amendment of the law on coronial enquiries, according to Christchurch barristers whose opinions were asked by "The Press" yesterday. According to one solicitor there is a difference of opinion as to the utility of inquests, but in so far as they serve the interests of justice in cases where deaths are attended by suspicious circumstances the machinery governing their conduct had not, as far as he knew, been found wanting.