Judge meets officers

Press, 17 June 1986, Page 8

Judge meets officers

PA Auckland South Auckland probation officers would not comment yesterday on a meeting with the Chief District Court Judge, Peter Trapski, about claims of cultural insensitivity in the Court at Otahuhu. About 25 officers spent 40 minutes discussing problems at the Court, particularly the contro-

versy over comments by Judge Peter Duncan during a sentencing last week. But their Public Service Association representative, Marney Ainsworth, said there would be no comment until all options open to the officers were considered today. The meeting, attended also by Justice Department officials, came after the probation officers

stopped work last week in support of a colieage, Mr Tuterangi Sadler, who was held in contempt of court for challenging Judge Duncan.

Judge Trapski said yesterday’s meeting produced a “pretty frank discussion.” The main benefit had been the re-estab-lishment of “what I would have thought were more traditional lines of communication.”