PAYMENT OF JURORS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 32, 7 August 1919, Page 8

PAYMENT OF JURORS

IMPROVEMENT PROMISED

: A deputation, representing jurors summoned for the present session of the Supreme Court, waited on the Minister for Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilford) tp-d!a,y. to urge an increase in the payment made to jurors. The , Minister was able to give the satisfactory reply that, a Bill was already drafted to, come before Parliament this session, to give effect to the request of the deputation.

Mr. W. B. Gough said that jurors, if they were, discharged before 12 o'clock, received 4s, and if required after that hours Bs. This was altogether inadequate for the important service rendered. Those who lived out of town got the same allowance as those summoned from the city, and from this:they had to pay their railway, fares, and perhaps 'bus fares and lunch, besides, in some < cases,' losing, a whole' day's pay. ■ Tlie Minister had remedied many grievances, and they confidently appealed to him to put this right if it was in his power. The Minister said that though he had, from the floor of the House,,urged that an increase should be made, he had not had the opportunity of putting the position effectively, before his colleagues till he became Minister for Justice. The rate of pay for common jurors was fixed at 8s and 4s by .Statute, and no increase could be made until the Act was amended as the Audit Department would not pass any payment above that authorised. But the rate was fixed years and years ago. when 8s was probably considered a fair day's pay. He had considered whether in altering the rate, a. new scale should be\ fixed; by, the Act or whether provision should be made for the rate of pay to be determined from time to time by Order-in-Council, which would mean that the Minister for Justieej with '; the approval,of Cabinet, would have power to Gazette a new rate of pay if the cost of living went higher. : The old Act allowed nothing for locomotion expenses—train, boat-, and coach fares, or horse hire in country districts. It seemed to himthat it would; be better-to have a new Act repealing the old clauses,. and fixing no new rate, but leaving it>to be determined hy Order-iri-Couucil. The Bill had been prepared and printed for introduction to ■ Parliament this, session^ and had been '. approved by : Cabinet without any alteration In addition to the provision for payment of jurors attending the Supreme Court and Coroner's inquests the Bill provided for payment of actual locomotion. expenses, including rail, coach, and steamboat fares, and such other expenses according to a scale to, be fixed. Everything asked for he had foreseen, and he, did not think a member of the House would raise his voice against it. He fully agreed with what the deputation had said. Common jurors had important, distasteful, and onerous duties to perform, and it was necessary .that the State should secure the services of good men who were satisfied and understood their responsibility. He had no power; however, to make any alteration in the pay'for this session; but he thought it would be. the last at which the present inadequate pay would be given. * -

Mr. Gough thaDked the Minister for this very satisfactory reply.