ITS BEEN QUITE A WEEK

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 14

ITS BEEN QUITE A WEEK

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There should be in appeal right "on behalf of the people" against Supreme Court sentences. —Mr Muldoon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, In debate on the Crimes Amendment Bill. "What worries me is that Her Majesty’s Judges and some people in the law show this tender anxiety to help people who are committing crimes.” —Sir Leslie Munro, M.P., same debate. (And a small matter of Security.)

Sir, let Us with one Voice congratulate Our Parliament upon a brilliant Week! When have YOU known the “Level of Debate’’ Lifted to so extraordinary a Peak—? I’ve read, and listened, awestruck—haven’t You? All This, and crowning All, the Budget too! We’ve heard Sir Leslie thundering, he’ll thwart The “tender” Judges who are kind to Crime. If the Supreme Court were Sir Leslie’s Court, He’d waste no Sympathy, and take less Time! AGAINST the Sentence of the Court, Muldoon Urges “the People’s Right” to change the Tune. And all This, Sir, may be All very well; And were WE Jurists, we might judge It so; Yet History and Experience will tell, Justice is seldom Perfect, here Below, — And Popular Assemblies have been prone To Recklessness in casting the First Stone.

While learned Judges may, or may not, learn From Parliamentary Precept and Correction,— The Universities too have had their Turn, Their LECTURES on the Nature and Protection Of Academic Freedoms, from “Prof.” Shand, Deep Stuff, which I’m not sure I understand: As for SECURITY. —what Joy to find Ourselves so frank, so outgoing and so healthy! Our Secret Service is the candid Kind, Nothing the least Bit underhand, or stealthy. It would be a cosier World, if ALL the Powers Would model their “Intelligence” on Ours!