DOMESTIC CASES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 87, 9 October 1935, Page 18

DOMESTIC CASES

HEARING IN PUBLIC

MORE PRIVACY WANTED

•2;OMEN SEEK REFORM

I A renewal of their representation for greater privacy in domestic courts was made to the Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) yesterday by a deputation from the National Council of Women, consisting of Miss C. E. Kirk, national president; Mrs. M. H. Chatfield, president of the Wellington branch; and Mesdames N. Peryman and M. J. Forde. The Minister detailed the steps he had taken last year to acquaint Stipendiary Magistrates throughout the Dominion, of the position, and he understood that they were co-operating as far as they could. He also intimated that the question of appointing women police would be discussed with the Commissioner (Mr. W. G. Wohlmann) shortly. The deputation was introduced by Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P. The first speaker, Miss Kirk emphasised the desirability of having more privacy in the hearing ,of domestic cases, and mentioned instances of girls who had appeared in court being accosted after the hearing of the case. In one instance a girl had lost her position because an undesirable had come to her home and asked for her. Another thing was that lack of sufficient privacy worked very mucti against reconciliation. The Minister: Were these cases heard in the open court? Miss Kirk: Yes; the evidence was not such as to have the court cleared. The Minister: The Magistrate may use his discretion. Miss Kirk: We find that it is too late, as undesirables can recognise those who have been left. She went on to say that a good many women sat in the court during the hearing of domestic cases, and the example of a separation order being granted was not a good one, as the incentive to make good was destroyed. "It is not-a matter that will' cost .anything," added Miss Kirk. "It is simply a matter of decency, and we ask you in the interests of men,and women and children that only friends of the persons concerned, legal representatives, social workers, and newspapers should be admitted to the hearing of these cases." Mrs. Chatfield, said that the New Zealand Law Society had twice supported the council's request in this matter. In England a Bill had been brought down in the House of Lords proposing to giva effect to this reform. It had been tried out' in London, and it was felt there that;it woiild make for a better understanding; between husbands and wives. ;■■. .!; - ■■.'■"■','-■ .''■", ■ •■' ■■ ■' .'■■■ Mrs. Chatfield also touchea on the question of women police; and said that it was with very great, regret that the council had noticed that the Minister had so definitely pronounced against them. The Minister: Not against them. We have not concluded our investigations. Mrs. Chatfield; But they are shelved. The Minister: For the time-being. Mrs. Chatfield said that sensible, well-trained women police were necessary, particularly to check the amount of trouble in young people, and she urged that the. Minister should consider the question along those lines and not on official 'lines. ■ .' " • WOMEN POLICE. The Minister, touching first on the question of women police, said that the matter had not been lost sight of. Inquiries had been made at Home and.in the United States, and from what they had learned women police were a,success in America, but reports from Home were not quite so favourable. The question ■of cost entered into things, also. He had just managed to get permission to increase the Police Force by 20 more men, and that; had been a matter of some expense.. He had every sympathy with the request; certain cases that had'come to his notice had .shown him that there was need for them. "Something may be done a little later," he said. "I will shortly be going into the question again with the Commissioner of Police." Coming to the matter of court hearings, the Minister said that it was a Very difficult question. It was a pity that so many of these disreputables should infest the courts as they did— and they were not only confined to men. It was, .however, reasonable in law that there should be no privacy in court, and that there should be no Star Chamber methods. He read a circular he had sent out to Magistrates throughout New. Zealand drawing attention to the matter under discussion, and he understood that they were cooperating. In Wellington-the hearing ■was held in a small room. "I think the Magistrates are pretty careful to exclude everyone not entitled' to be- present; they recognise the position, and try to do. what they can," he said. • Miss Kirk said' that she had seen anything from 50' to 100 people sitting in the back of the court who were not concerned with the cases before it. She had never-known a case where a Magistrate, had not cleared the' court when the evidence warranted it, but there were many cases where they could not say that' the evidence was of such a nature as to warrant the court being cleared. She..urged that there should be some alteration in the legislation to ensure more privacy.

The Minister remarked that they would have to be very careful what they did in this direction.