WITNESSES' EXPENSES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 31, 31 October 1907, Page 7

WITNESSES' EXPENSES.

statement: '.by ; coitONEU;' [BT TELEGKAI'II.—I'UKSS ASSOCIATION.] , ~ Auckland, October 30. , ' The' reply of-tho' Minister ; .for Justice (the ■Hon;iJ/.Ml'Uoiiran) to.thp cojninents' of' tlie,,Oity Coroner,' regarding' l thovp'aymonti'jbf./ witnesses' expenses was placed bofore' 'Mr,-T..' l .GrMh'am to-day. :;Hc. raid' the Minister...admitted that the , Coroners' 'Act of" 181!? "made' no provision for the payment; of, witnesses at inquests,! and -that ,it had never been the practiee.'of the to' pay them, but it was said that of late years the Government had decided to allow expenses to persons who lost ■ thoir wages ,or "were, put to . any, expense in attending inquests. "All I can say," added Mr. Grcshani, "is ,that -1 ;have, : never 'been, informed: of any such decision,'and consequently 2 do not know of it." When asked. if,-;ho had over made any claim on the Government' for expenses, the Coroner replied that wl|ou a vitnoss had to pay railway-or boat faro, those oxponses had boon allowed him. .• "In somo extreme. cases, but very, rarely," ho added, "compensation has "been paid to a 'witness for his, loss-of 'time qr ; waKes.' Until I receivoi soino'. direction ;of an; official character'to'that effect, f.pr, liiitiJJ niij" Act is passed enabling me to pay 1 witn&scs, 1 T'have no authority to allow such demands." ' He . added that. there...was ho provision in the Act.for tho coroner To' examine witnesses as to' what'tim'o ; .or" wages they had lost, and consequently, apart, from other considerations, lie had no'.intontioh of doing ;sor The Coroner further expressed the opinion that tho Coronors Act should bo so amended as to provido for tho payment of witnesses' 'expenses in the same maiinor as now prevails in cases where witnesses appear in tho police court.