PAYMENT OF JURORS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4180, 6 January 1871, Page 5

PAYMENT OF JURORS.

To the Editor of the Daily Sodthebn Ckoss. Sir,— At length, it appears, the Legislature lias done an act of long-deferred justice to common jurymen — that is, if the miserable remuneration allowed them by the Act of last session can he called justice. By this Act a juryman, residing in the town where the Courtis held, receives three shillings per day for every day he attends a sitting of the Supreme or District Court ; if out of the tow n, but within seven miles of the Courthouse, four shillings ; if more than seven but less than twelve from it, six shillings ; if more than twelve but less than twenty, eight shillings. As tbe Legislature was doing this tardy acb of common justice at all, it might have shown a somewhat more liberal spirit in the matter. Town jurors — that is, the mechanical portion of them— ought toreceive something approximating to what they lose by their absence from their employment ; and those residing in the country ought, at least, to have their travelling expenses paid them. At all events the remuneration, even small aa it is, is better than nothing at all. I take gome credit to myself, through the aid of the entire Press of Auckland, which freely gave insertion to all my communications upon the subject, in being the principal means of having this act of simple common justice done to common jurymen, having been the first ill Auckland to draw public attention to the question. I could never sec any just caupc or reason why special jurors should be paid, whilst the others received no remuneration whatever. Nor can I yet see any reason why they should still get a gu.iu.ea per day, whilst the remuneration given to common jurymen is so totally inadequate. The fact is, legislation upon the entire jury system is most imperfect, and T trust this most important question will receive early, market! and special attention in the next session of the new Pailiamcnt. 1 was always of opinion that none but ratepayers should be called upon to act a3 jmors, either upon criminal cases or upon inquests. Such is the case in the old country, and such ought to be the case here. — lam, &c, Antiiropos.