JURY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1933, Page 15

JURY SERVICE

CORPORATION EMPLOYEES

An application for exemption- from ■Jury service was made by a City Council traffic inspector at the Supreme Court today. The inspector said that he was engaged in inspecting heavy traffic vehicles. The second quarter of the year had just commenced, and ne was particularly busy. . After questioning the inspector the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) said. that on this occasion he would-let him co, not because of the merit of his application, but because there happened to bo a sufficient panel of jurymen. "My view," continued his Honour, "is that you arc an employee of the City Council: it is the duty of the City Corporation to help so far as it efan m the performance- of public services such as jury services. If employers like the City Corporation are to be permitted to have their employees exempt simply because they are employees of the Corporation, then we will have trouble in obtaining an efficient jury service. I hope that a similar application- to this will not be made in future." Another applicant for exemption stated that he had no objection to serving on the jury, but he was very hard of hearing-. "If your Honour is satisfied, - am -willing to carry on," he said. After speaking to . tho applicant for a few moments his Honour canio to the conclusion that he could hear well enough to. serve. . '"I don't Want to interfere more than can be. helped with the business activities of people who are called to serve on juries, "said his Honour when another man applied for exemption on the ground that ho had to make a twoday . business trip to Wairarapa. '' Nevertheless, it is an obligation, and it is a privilege to serve. After all, men like you ought to serve when you can when you are called upon." This applicant was not granted exemption, but was given leave from attendance at Court until Wednesday.