DISCOMFORT

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 134, 2 March 1922, Page 9

DISCOMFORT

JURORS AND WITNESSES IN SUPREME COURT.

A long time ago the jury box in the Wellington Supreme Court was altered, for the better. At least, it was widened a bit so that jurors could stretch their legs for a dittle space, and not go through untold agonies of cramp. They appreciated the favour. At the same time, or very shortly afterwards, the witness-box was provided with a seat. That meant that elderly gentlemen who were nervous in the box could, have some material support, and that ladies could be spared the ordeal of having to lean uncomfortably throughout a rigid cross-ex-amination. It was' a reform when first instituted'.. But the Tate-Winder breach of promise case that is at present occupying the time of the Court seems to have dissipated the idea that any improvement has been effected to either box. “S’truth,” said a juror to a Dominion man on Tuesday afternoon, after having sat for six hours, with an hour’s break, “it’s murder. I served on juries when the old narrow box was here, and I will say that we were packed so tightly that we couldn’t move. Bub in this new box we start to get backache after about a quarter of an hour. When they let us out for a rest this afternoon, we oould hardly ’stand straight. They have cushions there, but they aren’t worth calling cushions.” “They don’t seem to worry much about our comfort,” said another juryman with a soro back. “My spine went to sleep somewhere about'eleven o’clock this morning, and I don’t know when it’s going to wake up. Thick cushions can’t be very expensive. Why give us those useless desk arrangements in the front of the pews? Why can’t we have twelve good comfy chairs, so that we can cross our legs if we want, and 101 l back when we feel like doing so. We’re done in now. I’m dreading to-morrow.” “You weren’t in the back row, Blank,” remarked another juryman, who was trying to straighten out a cricked back. “If we try to lean back we hit our heads on a wooden partition. So we have to lean forward, and then we can’t sit up straight again. Ten bob a day for that! It’s not worth it!”

The jurymen had not spoken io Judge Hosking about their plight, but the kindly Judge had noticed. thendiscomfort. Throughout the trial he had allowed them spells. And they really needed them, for the atmosphere in the Court, crowded with gaping men and inquisitive women, was sweltering. His Honour also had' something to say about tho witness box on the first day of the trial. A woman was about to give evidence, and was standing in tho box according to the timehonoured custom. “You may sit down,” said His Honour, adding that a seat hadi been specially placed in the box for the convenience of female witnesses. She sat down, but the carpenters had placed the seat in the wrong place, and the w-itness could scarcely be heard. In fact, so had! is the box that often witnesses are allowed to sit in a chair in the body of the Court, by the legal practitioners’ table. Then at least the counsel who is examining or cross-examining can address his remarks both to the witness and the Judge.