Statement on Sutch case ‘reprehensible’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33672, 23 October 1974, Page 3

Statement on Sutch case ‘reprehensible’

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 22. The Attorney-General (Dr Finlay) was intervening in the administration of justice “in an imprudent and reprehensible manner,” the former Attorney-General (Sir John Marshall) said today.

Sir John was commenting on yesterday’s statement by Dr Finlay that the prosecution of Dr W. B. Sutch under the Official Secrets Act would proceed.

Sir John, in a Parliamentary notice of motion, described Dr Finlay’s statement as “injudicious.” “He made personal observations on the case liable to prejudice the trial of the accused, and gave per-

sonal opinions on the law which the court will be required to interpret and administer, and in so doing intervened in the administration of justice in an imprudent and reprehensible manner,” Sir John said. REMAND TIME

The Acting Prime Minister (Mr Tizard) said today that persons on remand for alleged offences against the Official Secrets Act would be held on remand for as long as was necessary to ensure that justice was done. He was replying in Parliament to a series of questions from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Taiboys) on the charges against Dr Sutch. Asked if he could explain how a willingness to answer questions of fact in relation to the Sutch case “could be prejudicial to the interests of justice,” Mr Tizard said there was nothing to add to previous answers given by the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling). Mr Taiboys also asked how long the Government was prepared to have a citizen on remand before deciding whether or not to institute a prosecution under the act.

Mr Tizard said the question had been partly resolved, but generally, people would be kept on remand as long as it was necessary to see justice was done. The last question was: “What considerations are causing the AttorneyGeneral to delay instituting a prosecution against Dr Sutch under the Official Secrets Act.” Mr Tizard replied: “None?’