IRREGULAR PROCEEDINGS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 4

IRREGULAR PROCEEDINGS.

SATIRICAL REMARKS BY JUDGE EDWARDS. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.! :> Auckland, June 2. When two young Maoris named respectively Kahili Whioki and Riwi Waitoki, who had pleaded guilty before a magistrate at Manganui, wero .brought bciore his Honour Mr. Justice Edwards for scntenco at tlio Supreme Court, it was found that the form of their commitment was irregular, their pleas of guilty not having been endorsed upon the information and signed or "marked", by the prisoners, as required by the Justices of tho Pcaco Act. His Honour, addressing tho prisoners, said- "You are brought before tho Court committed by Justices in alleged pursuance of the Justices of tho Peace Act, 1908 but the whole proceedings aro so lrrcu'lar as to bo absolutely void. I cannot, therefore, sentence you, nor can you bo held in custody at tho present stage; but I am afraid that won't do you much Hood. You will bo allowed to go now, but I'm afraid you'll meet the police in the corridor. (Laughter.) • Iho proceedings will have to be gone through again, and vou will have (o bo brought up bofore'mo or some other Judge later on. You may bo interested lo learn that tliifl sort of blunder on tho part of Justices is cetting quite common. 1 had to let a voung countryman of yours go just a few davs ago, but he was brought up before mei renin next morning. I do not suppose vou caro whether the money of tho country is saved or not, becauso I don t think the Maoris contribute very much to taxation I think tho simpler means which are available for the (precaution of such miscarriages in tho' future should bo taken. It tho Justice Department printed forms that were complete in all respects so that it would be impossible for tho Justices to go wrong, wo should not have this trouble in tho future. The cost of goiiig through these proceedings again at Manganui would pay for tho printing of a groat number of forms of this sort. You will probably understand that although I am addressing you as prisoners before tho Court, I am really saying what ought io be recognised and done in the interests of the public. Rclenso tho.prisoners." - The prisoners were rearrested as soon as they left tho Court, and to-day were recommitted for sentence.